San Diego Water Authority Partners with Anaergia for Renewable energy Project
San Diego County, CA – The East County Advanced Water Purification Joint Powers Authority (JPA) has awarded Anaergia Technologies a C$43.8 million (€29.6 million) contract to build a state-of-the-art renewable power generation facility. The project, announced Thursday, will convert organic waste into clean energy, bolstering the region’s energy independence and reducing operational costs for the JPA.
This deal represents a continuation of a successful partnership between the Canadian-based Anaergia and the JPA,which comprises padre Dam Municipal Water District,the City of El Cajon,the County of San Diego,and Helix Water District.Anaergia will be responsible for the complete design, construction, commissioning, and startup of the facility.
The plant will utilize high-efficiency anaerobic digestion – a process that breaks down organic matter without oxygen – coupled with combined heat and power technology. This will allow the JPA to generate electricity directly from the biogas produced on-site, creating a closed-loop system that minimizes waste and maximizes resource recovery.
“This project will serve our ratepayers by reducing operating costs and enhancing the energy resiliency of our critical water infrastructure, especially in the face of rising power costs,” said Kyle Swanson, CEO and General Manager of Padre Dam Municipal Water District, which operates the East County Advanced water Purification Plant.
the East County Advanced Water Purification Program is a vital initiative aimed at securing a drought-resilient drinking water supply for East San Diego County. By purifying recycled water, the programme is projected to meet up to 30% of the region’s water demand.The addition of on-site renewable energy generation further strengthens the program’s sustainability and long-term viability.
“This contract underscores the strength of our collaboration with the JPA and demonstrates how our integrated technologies help customers decarbonize operations, advance their clean energy transition, and strengthen energy independence,” stated Anaergia CEO Assaf Onn.
Construction is slated to be completed within two years, marking a significant step towards a more sustainable and resilient future for San Diego County.
