Anaergia Generates Renewable Energy from Organic Waste with the First Power Purchase Agreement using Fuel Cells in California for the City of San José

BURLINGTON, ON, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Anaergia Inc., a global leader in the generation of renewable energy from organic waste, today announced the 1.4MW renewable energy plant at the City of San José Water Pollution Control Plant in California is coming online using biogas from the anaerobic digesters.

The partnership between Anaergia Services, a division of Anaergia Inc., and the City of San José uses a zero emission, fuel cell power plant to generate renewable electricity from organic waste at the Water Pollution Control Plant.  A fuel cell converts biogas into electricity using an electrochemical process similar to the process used in batteries.  Although all heat and electricity produced by the facility is used at the Water Pollution Control Plant to reduce natural gas and electricity consumption, the amount of energy generated is enough to offset the annual consumption of 1,400 households.

The project is part of the City of San José Green Vision that aims to position San José as the center of innovation and entrepreneurship for environmental sustainability practices that foster a high quality of life for residents.

"We are pleased to enhance the energy self sufficiency of the San José Water Pollution Control Plant and take a positive step towards the renewable energy goals as part of the City's Green Vision," said Joanna De Sa, Deputy Director of Wastewater Management at the City of San José.  "The City of San José has taken a leadership role in environmental stewardship by selecting an anaerobic digestion and fuel cell solution that provides significant environmental benefits over traditional solutions."

Fewer than 5% of all the municipal wastewater treatment plants in the United States generate renewable electricity using digester gas from sludge.

"San José's approach provides a great model for other municipalities interested in converting their organic waste streams into renewable energy," said Steve Watzeck, CEO of Anaergia Inc. "Effective utilization of digester gas at wastewater treatment plants under a power purchase agreement is an emerging service model that can benefit communities across North America. The San José model allows us to provide a cost effective solution by leveraging economies of scale and taking advantages of tax incentives that may not be available to municipal entities. The net result is predictable, low cost electricity that provides long term cost savings and a smaller carbon footprint."

This project is the first fuel cell project operated under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in California.  Anaergia designed, financed, built and now operates the facility under the 20 year PPA.

About Anaergia Inc.

Anaergia, headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, is a global leader in the generation of renewable energy from organic waste streams.  Anaergia offers the widest range of anaerobic treatment solutions to municipal, industrial and agricultural markets with over 1,600 biogas projects globally.

SOURCE Anaergia Inc.