FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne City Utilities’ Microgrid and Floating Solar Panels System was honored for the second time in two days. Wednesday afternoon, Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) presented the utility with the Community Green Project of the Year Award during the Ideas Summit at the Grand Wayne Center.
The following was released:
The City Utilities’ Microgrid integrates solar panels, battery storage, and both methane and natural gas to power the city’s water, sewer treatment, and wet-weather pump stations. Installing over 12,000 floating solar panels is one of the few such applications in the country, placing Fort Wayne at the forefront of innovative renewable energy technology.
CU Team: Kumar Menon, Jeff Bricker, Anne Marie Smrchek, Zach Schortgen, Jose Castillio, Jeff Petersen, Dave Thompson, Matthew Wirtz, Matt Gallmeyer, Justin Brugger
Years of research by City Utilities led to this project, which makes the utility more resilient and cost-efficient. Floating solar panels can be installed closer together, generating about 15% more power than land-based systems. Once operational, the microgrid will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4,600 tons annually equivalent to the emissions from 1,161 gasoline-powered vehicles.
On Tuesday, City Utilities received the Utility of the Future Award for the Microgrid system, presented jointly by several national organizations, including the Water Environment Federation (WEF), National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), The Water Research Foundation, US Water Alliance, and the WaterReuse organization.
City Utilities released the following on that honor:
National honors come to City Utilities as the recipient of the Utility of the Future Today award given jointly by Water Environment Federation (WEF), North Association of Clean Water Agencies, The Water Research Foundation, US Water Alliance, and the WaterReuse organization.
The recognition underscores City Utilities’ innovative approach to sustainability through its unique microgrid initiative. This initiative, which is a first of its kind, combines floating solar panels, battery energy storage, and natural gas generation to power City Utilities largest facilities. The microgrid includes 12,230 floating solar panels on a sewer facility pond and will power the Three Rivers Filtration, Water Pollution Control, and the Wet-Weather Pump Plant when operational.
The Microgrid system is part of City Utilities’ strategic goal to achieve zero energy emissions for utility energy sources by 2030. The project enhances energy resiliency by providing a backup power source during storms and reduces dependency on the electric grid. The system addresses rising energy costs and improves the economic efficiency of City Utilities’ facilities.
The Utility of the Future Today award celebrates forward-thinking utility providers committed to sustainable operations, resource recovery, and innovative practices. The national recognition was announced, Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at a conference in New Orleans, and marks the fifth time City Utilities has won the Utility of the Future Award
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