Solar Applications for Water & Wastewater Facilities

This presentation will provide an overview of the impact of climate change on the water and wastewater sector (e.g., infrastructure damage from stronger storms, drought limiting supplies). Topics discussed will be the carbon footprint of the water & wastewater utility sector including direct emissions and electricity use. Lastly, we will highlight key examples of utilities deploying solar strategies to meet sustainability targets. The presentation will serve as an introduction into why water utilities should care about carbon emissions and consider renewable solutions.

The presenters from HOLT Renewables, a solar EPC with experience working on wastewater treatment plants, will share practical information on several solar applications such as ballasted arrays, floating solar, carports, and rooftop installations. Additionally, this presentation will cover the growing energy storage market as well as examples of financial analysis for facilities, available incentives for municipalities, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and advantageous locations regarding on-site solar across the United States.

This session will examine the viability of fixed-tilt versus single-axis and dual-axis tracking commercial solar installations. Presenters will explore key differences in energy production, installation cost, land use, and maintenance considerations. By evaluating the advantages and challenges of each option, the presentation will help businesses and developers better determine the best approach to future solar projects.

As the demand for resilient infrastructure grows, the Pendleton Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Facility (WWTRRF) is advancing energy independence through renewable energy and innovative storage solutions. This presentation will highlight how the facility’s diverse onsite renewable resources—including a ground-mount solar tracking array, solar canopy, and microturbines—together with the soon-to-be-completed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), are enhancing grid stability and reducing costs for ratepayers. By generating electricity onsite, WWTRRF eases pressure on the local grid, strengthening overall system resilience. This discussion will explore the wide-ranging benefits of this approach, such as the solar canopy’s role in shading critical infrastructure to reduce bio-growth, and provide key insights from integrating microturbines and solar tracking systems. The facility has also successfully utilized various funding and financing opportunities to deliver projects with favorable paybacks for the community. Discover how these innovations are setting a new standard for sustainable, cost-effective wastewater treatment, benefiting both the community and the environment.

This presentation will cover various applications of floating solar PV, including water and wastewater treatment facilities, power plant cooling ponds, reservoirs and hydroelectric dam sites, retention ponds, and mining ponds and lakes. As well as other unique applications. This presentation will look into the advantages of solar PV on the water, comparisons to ground mount and roof mount systems including cost comparisons for CAPEX, as well as O&M and warranty.

This presentation provides an in-depth case study of the floating solar project implemented at the Southern Regional Water Supply Facility in southwest Florida. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how floating solar can be a viable, sustainable solution for powering water treatment facilities, while also contributing to broader renewable energy goals.

First-generation solar projects are quickly reaching the end of their useful lives. At the same time, an unprecedented number of new projects will be installed in the coming years. In response, many states are creating regulatory requirements applicable to solar facility decommissioning and end-of-life issues. These new regulations will require, in many cases, comprehensive end-of-life planning to avoid unanticipated costs and to ensure that sites are properly decommissioned. This presentation will cover existing and emerging state and federal regulations as well as considerations for developers, landowners, lessees, and local governments.

Clean energy at no cost to the city’s rate payers. What’s not to like? This presentation will share a compelling story about the planning, design, and construction of the largest ground mounted solar array in western Montana. This array was constructed at virtually no cost to the citizens of Missoula and produces 20% of the wastewater treatment plant’s electrical needs.