Maximizing Renewable Energy Resources While Minimizing Greenhouse Gases 

Biosolids are the nutrient rich natural by-product of wastewater treatment. They are produced by removing the organics from municipal sewage - the majority of which comes from residential homes.

Over 158,000 metric tons of “dry solids” are produced annually in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Biosolids to Energy Coalition is committed to creating energy from biosolids using state-of-the art technology to generate clean and renewable energy resources of value to society and the environment.

Biosolids Today, Clean Energy Tomorrow

Biosolids contain latent energy that can be harnessed via capture and combustion of methane gas or via direct combustion.  The conversion process involves heating the material to break down the solids and create gases that are converted to energy. Converting biosolids to energy relies on technologies including pyrolysis, gasification, thermo oxidation, fluidized bed reactor and arc plasma.

Benefits of Turning Biosolids into Energy

• Convert biosolids and green waste to energy
• Decrease greenhouse gases
• Help meet goals set by California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32), Renewable Portfolio and Bioenergy Action Plan
• Create green jobs
• Use local, sustainable supplies
• Significantly reduce truck miles (presently at more than 800,000 miles annually)

Bay Area Biosolids to
Energy Coalition

Sixteen San Francisco Bay Area agencies, representing 2.3 million residents, have come together in an unprecedented collaborative effort to seek a local, sustainable solution to biosolids management. Read more...

Call For RFQs

The Coalition has begun a qualification process to determine the feasibility of creating a regional  biosolids processing facility within the nine-county
San Francisco Bay Area. Read more... 

Project Goals

Local wastewater agencies can help achieve state and federal goals of meeting electricity and low carbon fuel needs with renewable sources. The Bay Area Biosolids to Energy Project is working to capture the energy within biosolids on a larger scale and in a more effective and efficient method. Read more...