Hydro Turbine to Save $1.4 Million

Hydro turbineIn 2021, the City of South Burlington is planning to construct a hydro turbine on the outfall pipe of the City’s Airport Parkway Wastewater Treatment Facility along the Winooski River to produce electrical power.  

There is a significant elevation change from the plant to the discharge point and the kinetic energy of the discharge can be converted into power. It is estimated that 20 to 30 kilowatts of power will be generated at peak flow, resulting in significant electrical power savings at the Treatment Facility.

Over the expected 30-year life of the turbine, $1.4M in energy savings are anticipated, an average of $47,000 per year. The energy savings are in excess of the project’s estimated construction costs, making this the second large capital wastewater project in the last few years to result in lower annual operating costs.