Utilities beginning to harness excess water pressure to generate clean energy

InPipe Energy is working to help turn everyday activities, like flushing a toilet or getting a glass of water, into sources of renewable energy. The company partnered with public water utilities across the U.S. to transform excess water pressure into electricity.

InPipe Energy’s technology captures energy that usually gets wasted when water flows downhill. The process creates pressure that typically releases as heat through a valve. Instead of letting that pressure dissipate, InPipe’s system uses the pressure to spin a small turbine. That turbine then generates electricity. The amount of power produced is modest, enough to supply about 14 homes. However, there are significant benefits to both the utilities and the environment.

"What if we could produce energy that was consistent and reliable and predictable and had no environmental impact and was low cost?" InPipe CEO Gregg Semler said. "We can, and we have."

While the system does not produce not a huge amount of power, InPipe can still sell it back to energy companies. That power could generate approximately $12,000 in revenue per year. This allows water utilities to recover the initial investment cost of installing the technology in less than a decade. Additionally, the revenue generated from selling the power could help lower water bills for consumers over time.

“Our customers can generate a new revenue stream from energy," Semler said. "They can reduce their carbon footprint, save water, extend the life of their infrastructure, and they can do it all without changing what they’re currently doing. What could be more sustainable?”

InPipe Energy already has projects underway in Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado, with plans to eventually expand nationwide. Larger-scale versions of the system are also in the works, including one in Washington designed to help offset electric bills for local schools and supply power to electric vehicle (EV) chargers.

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