City of Manitou Springs, Colorado, 75kW, Water Treatment Facility Application

Rentricity’s Flow-to-Wire (F2W) in-conduit hydropower energy recovery solution permits the City to recover energy that would normally be dissipated during normal high pressure fresh water delivery to its WTP. The excess pressure is converted to electricity that in turn offsets essentially all of the consumptive electric load of the WTP as well as offsets much of the “peak demand” charges imposed by the electric utility – Colorado Springs Utilities. This offset substantially reduces a major operating cost for the WTP and lowers the City’s and Colorado Springs carbon footprint.

Flexibility in the SEMS control scheme and programming in the SEMS Program Logic Controller allow for maximum flexibility by the City in operating the system. This flexibility allows for adjustments in a variety of pressure, flow and level setpoints and permissives; all from the Operator’s SCADA. This helps assure maximum generation during periods of maximum benefit; i.e. Peak Demand periods The Manitou Springs WTP Hydropower system is expected to continue generating in excess of 300,000 kWh per year based upon historical hydraulics and operating demand.

The City’s Flow-to-Wire system is designed for durability and a long life (40-50 years) with major maintenance limited to servicing the generator stator every 15-20 years.

All of the energy generated at the WTP is used to offset the consumptive and peak demand charges the City would normally incur for supply of power by Colorado Springs Utilities. Payback on the capital funds used for the project is expected to occur within 12-14 years. As the City continues to fine tune its water processing operations and adds storage capacity, it is expected the WTP will become a net-zero energy facility.