Monterey, Calif. WWTP opens RFP for microgrid, biogas analysis
Monterey One Water in Monterey, Calif., is seeking a feasibility analysis for two transformative resiliency initiatives: an organics-to-energy study and a microgrid pre-design.
Monterey One Water, which manages wastewater, is collocated with the Monterey Regional Waste Management District (MRWD), which manages non-hazardous solid wastes. The two facilities have partnered to achieve energy efficiency by better using their waste and using an electrical microgrid. The facilities will look into using waste was a renewable source of energy, heat, or other use, while also looking into implementing a microgrid with ‘islanding’ functionality to heighten their operational resilience.
To this end, the facilities have opened a request for proposals (RFP) for a feasibility analysis on using renewable energy from waste, implementing a microgrid, and developing a financial plan for the projects.
“In recent years, the county has experience firsthand the impacts of wildfires, drought, prolonged rain events, and costal storm surges,” reads the RFP’s introduction. “To address this vulnerability, [Monterey One Water] and MRWD have identified the Monterey Microgrid and Renewable Energy Projects (MMREP) as the possible means to deliver reliability, sustainability, and affordability to the ratepayers and communities served by the agencies.”
MRWD has outlined the needs for the feasibility reports as follows:
1. Organics-to-Energy Study: Evaluate available energy and value of waste materials and byproducts, including sludge, food waste, and other organic wastes.
2. Monterey Microgrid Pre-Design: Analyze the existing and future energy needs of M1W and MRWMD to recommend a microgrid configuration for onsite renewable energy sources.
3. Economic Justice Analysis: Develop a 20-year financial plan including anticipated cash flow for the project alternatives selected from the feasibility studies above.
The agencies will hold a mandatory pre-proposal and site meeting on July 7, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. The agencies will then accept bids electronically through Procore, a construction management software platform, until Monday, Aug. 1 2022, at 3:30 p.m.
Readers looking for more information can contact Yohana Vargas at [email protected].
More information can be found at Monterey One Water’s website and at MRWMD’s website.
The full RFP is available here.
