Building decision support for decarbonized and affordable water distribution systems

Water systems represent an untapped source of electric power load flexibility. The Water-Energy Efficiency for the Environment (WE3) Lab has developed tools to help water utilities value, assess, and deploy energy demand flexibility to reduce costs and emissions while maintaining safe and reliable water supply. This project will quantify the market size for energy flexibility services in water distribution systems and identify strategies for scaling energy management decision-support tools through commercialization, licensing, or strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors. This project will be successful if it enhances the adoption of strategic energy management practices in water distribution systems by making these tools more widely available and easier to use.