The Water Research Foundation has released a request for proposals aimed at identifying water and wastewater projects that are "amenable to a public private partnership approach for energy cost savings and green gas...emission reductions."
The background on RFP #4634, which is budgeted at $150,000, is that funding for water and wastewater utilities is limited, which is forcing these companies to find new revenue streams and funding strategies. One such innovative approach is public/private partnerships (PPP), which can take several forms, including power purchase agreements.
The research is in part aimed at synthesizing and collating information about these PPPs involving energy projects for water and wastewater utilities. It will highlight characteristics, challenges, barriers, risks, incentives and benefits. Responses are due on November 15.
Smart power purchase agreements can benefit both parties, according to Utilities Review. Energy Future subsidiary Luminant has signed one such deal with SunEdison. Under terms of the deal, Luminant will purchase power from SunEdison’s 116 MW Castle Gap solar plant near Midland, TX.
