Harnessing Opportunities for
Clean Power Generation
Resource Recovery and Solar Energy Programs
The SFPUC’s diverse clean energy portfolio makes us one of the cleanest energy utilities
in California. The SFPUC’s resource portfolio consists of almost completely greenhouse
gas (GHG) free electricity. And it is one of the SFPUC’s guiding principles to continue
to reduce the GHG emissions in the electricity sector of San Francisco. By looking at
the system holistically, we recognized that while energy is consumed at various points
in the system, such as treatment plants and pump stations, it can also be generated
at other points in the system. This holistic approach to identifying points of energy
consumption and opportunities for clean power generation makes energy an important
element of OneWaterSF.
We are also capturing and using biofuels and methane gas, byproducts of our wastewater
collection and treatment operations. Methane gas (biogas) is captured at our Oceanside
and Southeast wastewater treatment facilities and converted to electricity used for
plant operations. At the Southeast Treatment Plant, we have utilized both biogas and
solar panel arrays installed at the plant to meet up to 40 percent of the plant’s energy
needs. The SF Greasecycle Program generates renewable biofuel by collecting fats, oils,
and grease (FOG) from restaurants and residences throughout the City. The collected
FOG is converted into biodiesel and used to run city buses and vehicles, offsetting
250,000 gallons of petroleum based diesel per year, which reduces GHG emissions.
Sunset Reservoir
We are maximizing opportunities for clean, renewable power generation by recognizing
the energy potential provided by our water and wastewater systems. The Sunset
Reservoir solar panel array is San Francisco’s largest solar installation and, with a
generating capacity of up to 5 megawatts, is one of California’s largest municipal solar
arrays located in an urban setting. By co-locating the panels on top of Sunset Reservoir,
we were able to more than triple the amount of municipal solar generating capacity of
San Francisco.
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