Angus English (CEBC President) (L) and Glenn Martin (CEBC) (R) present Award of Excellence to Dr. Dave Forgie (AE) and Fred Neninger (Metro Vancouver).

Associated Engineering receives Award of Excellence for Metro Vancouver Waste to Energy Project

Associated Engineering received an Award of Excellence for Metro Vancouver's Clean Energy from Biosolids project at the Consulting Engineers of BC annual awards celebration in March. The annual awards recognize and celebrate excellence in consulting engineering.

Associated Engineering received the Award of Excellence for our development of a unique and flexible approach to help Metro Vancouver reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to achieve its vision of being a zero net carbon region. Demonstrating that biosolids can be a viable and sustainable fuel, the Clean Energy from Biosolids project has advanced the industry's technical knowledge on this environmentally beneficial option for energy production.

Metro Vancouver operates five wastewater treatment plants that create primary and secondary sludges. With expected increase in biosolids production from future population growth and planned secondary upgrades of two of Metro Vancouver's wastewater treatment plants, Metro Vancouver wanted to evaluate options that would permit beneficial use of the biosolids to produce energy. They selected Associated Engineering, with subconsultants Veolia Canada and Gartner Lee Ltd., to investigate energy from biosolids production options.

Associated Engineering's team evaluated a series of options based on sociological, environmental, and economic criteria. The recommended approach uses digested biosolids as a fuel for cement kilns, replacing coal and, thereby, significantly reducing greenhouse gases. This approach will also expand energy production from biosolids gas via cogeneration or use as a fuel for Metro Vancouver's fleet vehicles.

This approach to deriving energy is unique in North America, where biosolids are typically reused via land application. For Metro Vancouver, the energy production approach is a practical, sustainable, and cost effective option for reducing greenhouse gases and achieving its vision for the region. See article on page 7 for full story.