Lessons Learned from High-Speed Phase 1 PDB and the Unproven Energy Landscape

Presentation Description: To achieve compliance with new, more stringent air emissions requirements, the Encina Wastewater Authority (Encina) embarked on the CLEAR (Co-generation Low Emission Augmentation and Retrofit) Project in early 2025. Due to a tight window for compliance, as well as time sensitive financial incentive, Encina elected to deliver the CLEAR project via progressive design-build (PDB). PDB projects allow for start of construction activities earlier than traditional design-bid-build, and could allow Encina to more securely meet their new emissions limits and obtain financial incentives. The CLEAR project however, is complex; requiring installation of a new microgrid control system, new biogas treatment system, emissions controls on existing engines, new linear generators and a battery energy storage system to an operating treatment plant. Moving too fast to achieve the above benefits risks an inaccurate design, cost overruns, and delayed startup.
This presentation will discuss lessons learned from Phase 1 (through guaranteed max price negotiation and construction start) of the CLEAR project, how to balance design certainty with schedule acceleration, management approaches to ensure quality deliverables, and digital tools to aid in design recommendations. The project concept itself is novel in the water resource recovery world, and will also discuss successful design integration of state of the practice energy upgrades into a WRRFs effectively turning it into a Microgrid. In addition to these technical aspects, the audience will leave with a better understanding of the applicability PDB to complex WRRF upgrades.