"Water utilities are in the business of making clean water, not using clean energy," says Dr. Rob Sowby. "That needs to change."
Water and wastewater utilities need energy to pump, treat, and move water. But as intermittent renewable energy, dynamic power pricing, and flexible electric loads become standard, they are struggling to keep up with the ongoing energy transition.
"These utilities are in the business of making clean water, not using clean energy," says Civil and Construction Engineering professor Dr. Rob Sowby. "That needs to change."
Sowby's new article, "Research to Support Water and Wastewater Utilities in the Transition to a Clean-Energy Future," published in Water Research, addresses these issues. He recommends that they embrace existing best practices to establish energy policies, improve energy data management, prioritize low-energy water sources, and participate in demand response programs. New techniques are also needed: preparing for dynamic pricing, developing on-site micro-grids, and building capacity for integrated water and energy demand forecasting.
Water utilities have succeeded through many technical and regulatory changes in the past, Sowby observes, so he is confident they can navigate the energy transition too.
"We're headed toward a clean-energy future. Water utilities who learn how to do these things will thrive in it."