Q&A with Chris Nagle,

North American Regional Director, Siemens

Q: Technically speaking, how is the energy produced in the co-generation plant?

A: Hill Canyon is taking the waste from the wastewater treatment process and putting it into an anaerobic digester, which is basically allowing it to sit, decompose, and produce methane. The methane gas from the digester is cleaned by BioSpark on site and then burned in the Siemens supplied internal combustion engine, producing the electricity and hear that the plant needs.

Q: What technology was needed to make that possible?

A: This engine is built specifically for this type of application. The fuel is a bit challenging, as there can be harmful contaminants that pass through the gas into the engine. We design the engine in a way that not only has a tolerance for some of these things that might make it into the gas stream, but also to run reliably, 24/7, almost every day of the year. So this engine is purpose-built for these types of applications to run a long time in very demanding and difficult environments.

Q: How important is that custom-designed engine, in terms of helping to meet energy goals?

A: Having an engine that's able to run continuously affords a wastewater treatment plant the ability to keep their utility costs low without having to purchase more expensive power from the utility. That entrepreneurial approach by Hill Canyon was a tremendous benefit to the ratepayers and the citizens of Thousand Oaks.