Photo of a Temperate Wetland

Applied Ecological Services, Inc. (AES) will study the use of restored wetlands to help alleviate the increasing stress on surface and groundwater resources from thermoelectric power plant cooling requirements.  The project will develop water conservation and cooling strategies using restored wetlands.  Furthermore, the project aims to demonstrate the benefits of reduced water usage with added economic and ecological values at thermoelectric power plant sites, including: enhancing carbon sequestration in the corresponding wetlands; improving net heat rates from existing power generation units; avoiding limitations when low-surface water flows or excessive heat limit the ability of the unit to operate within permitted levels (occurs during the hottest days when demand for electricity is greatest); and providing a suite of biological and physical mechanisms to help treat wastewater effluents.

Researchers will investigate the benefits, costs, and limitations of using restored wetlands for power plant water reuse and as tertiary treatment of wastewater treatment plant effluent prior to use in a power plant, thus mitigating the demand on current surface water systems.