HANCEVILLE-With the assistance of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the Hanceville Wastewater Treatment Plant
has become the first solar facility of its kindin the state.
Designed by Goodwyn Mills and Cawood under the direction of the
Hanceville Water and Sewer Board, the solar array at the Hanceville WWTP was completed in July of 2018 and now is yielding significant energy savings at the facility. The solar installation was funded by an ADEM State Revolving Fund loan and a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority, and will help the plant achieve ongoing energy savings for years to come.
The green energy facility consists of 504 Silfab solar panels arranged in seven arrays with dedicated inverters. Located within the fence line of the wastewater treatment plant, the solar facility has the electrical generating capacity of 170-Kilowatts.
Since 2014, Hanceville has worked closely with ADEM to optimize its WWTP operation to conserve energy and improve effluent quality well beyond Hanceville’s permit requirements. Hanceville has reduced its energy usage by 32-percent in the last five years and Hanceville has reduced its annual energy costs by $19,000.
The Hanceville wastewater system treats approximately 0.7 million gallons per day of municipal wastewater. In addition to saving energy and reducing its energy demand, Hanceville has also implemented a nutrient reduction
strategy as part of its WWTP optimization program. By optimizing its plant beyond permit requirements, Hanceville has lowered the amount of total nitrogen being discharged to the receiving stream by 25.5 tons per year. As a result, Hanceville’s efforts are year helping to improve water quality in the Black Warrior River watershed.
Media Release/ Alabama Department of Environmental Management
