Introduction
Wastewater is a valuable source of un-tapped energy that can be recovered from existing wastewater infrastructure. Wastewater Energy Recovery (WWER) is a proven decarbonization technology, with approximately 500 installations worldwide. Many of the WWER installations are in Europe and Canada and have been providing cost-effective renewable heating and cooling of commercial buildings for over 15 years[1]. WWER can be thought of as a technology that operates like Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs). Whereas GSHPs reject or absorb heat from groundwater, WWER rejects or absorbs heat from wastewater. One of the more attractive differences between the two technologies is the fact that WWER does not require subsurface ground loops or boreholes, which can account for about 30% of the cost for GSHP technology.
[1] Reference: Uhrig Therm Liner Energy Systems 3-31-2023; Sharc Energy Systems; Noventa - Huber: Toronto Western Hospital project
News and Updates
(NEW) April 2026
The WWER Pilot grant will be open to receive online applications on the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Grant Management System (GMS) on Tuesday, May 26th. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for each phase of the pilot process and grants will be distributed on a first-come basis through May 26, 2028, or until the funds are expended. Interested applicants should review the Request for Responses Wastewater Energy Recovery Pilot Grant Program 2026-2028 Opportunity on Commbuys on May 26th. In order to apply for the Pilot Grant through the GMS platform, interested applicants must first pre-register to use the online grant application system. This will enable you to apply to the WWER Pilot Grant, communicate directly with CERP staff, and submit files as needed.
June 2025
To advance WWER technology, MassDEP has allocated $5 million to support pilot WWER demonstration projects. The WWER pilot grants launching in the fall of 2024 will support construction and activation of up to eight pilot installations across Massachusetts. The projects will enable testing of the decarbonization technology and evaluation of the resulting energy and cost savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions. This core state funding will be combined and leveraged with other sources of existing technical or financial assistance from our Massachusetts’ energy utilities (Mass Save®, Municipal Light Plants), wastewater energy technology providers who can provide preliminary assessments for interested customers and potentially other state and federal partners.
Eligible Applicants:
- Publicly-owned & privately-owned wastewater facilities
- Municipal & state-owned buildings
- Public & private colleges and universities
- Nonprofit and privately-owned organizations
Wastewater Energy Recovery Pilot
Wastewater Energy Recovery (WWER) Pilot Program - Outreach Brochure - revised April 2026
Wastewater Energy Recovery Technology Comparison Matrix - revised May 2026
May 11, 2026 Bidders' Informational Conference Materials
- Bidders' Informational Conference Video Recording
-
Open PDF file, 1.68 MB, Bidders' Informational Conference Slide Deck (English, PDF 1.68 MB)
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Open PDF file, 131.25 KB, WWER MassDEP Official Answers to Questions - May 20, 2026 (English, PDF 131.25 KB)
Estimated Procurement Calendar
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of Grant Opportunity (posted on COMMBUYS and MassDEP/CERP website) | May 8, 2026 | 10:00am |
| Grant Release/RFR Posting Date on MassDEP/CERP website | May 26. 2026 | 10:00am |
Bidders’ Informational Conference (via Zoom) To obtain dial-in information or the Zoom link for the first session, please register on the Wastewater Energy Recovery page on MassDEP's website. The date of the second session will be scheduled for early October and the exact date will be posted on Commbuys. Please note: Interested applicants may attend either session. Both informational sessions will be recorded. | May 11, 2026 | 1:00pm |
| Deadline for Submission of Questions to MassDEP for the first Bidders’ Conference is due via email to: CERP@mass.gov | May 13, 2026 | 5:00pm |
| Official Answers for Q&A published on MassDEP website | May 22, 2026 | 5:00pm |
| Amendment Deadline for Pilot Grant Opportunity | May 22, 2026 | 5:00pm |
| GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE | This grant is issued on a rolling basis through May 31, 2028, or until funds are expended | N/A |
| Notification of Grant Award(s) Will be POSTED ON COMMBUYS AND MASSDEP WEBSITE for the duration of the Pilot Grant. | On a rolling basis upon selection and completion of Pilot Grant | N/A |
| Estimated Contract Start Date *Actual contract dates will vary for individual grant awards. | * Grant contract effective date | N/A |
Wastewater Energy Recovery Summit
MassDEP’s Clean Energy Results Program and its partners, MassDOER and the Clean Energy Center (CEC) hosted the Wastewater Energy Recovery Summit on December 8, 2023. This was a hybrid event with in-person and virtual attendance. During the summit, attendees learned from local and US-based municipalities about projects that have been installed utilizing wastewater energy recovery, as well as current projects being planned and their experience engaging with these technologies.
Presentations
Morning Session: Technology Presentations
- HUBER Technology - Ed Rubinstein, Vice President at Noventa Energy (PDF)
- SHARC Energy - Aaron Miller, Eastern Regional Manager (PDF)
- UHRIG Group - Frank Urro, Head of North American Business Unit (PDF)
- MassSave/National Grid - Owen Brady-Traczyk, Director of the Future of Heat Solutions (PDF)
- MassSave/Eversource - Jennifer Amatore, Energy Efficiency Consultant (PDF)
Afternoon Presentations: Tapping into Energy from Wastewater
- DC Water - Saul Kinter, Program Manager for Business Development and Energy Initiatives (PDF)
- Boston Planning & Development Agency - Travis Anderson, Senior Infrastructure & Energy Planner (PDF)
- King County Sewer Authority - Drew Thompson, Resource Recovery Project Manager (PDF)
- Metro Vancouver, BC - Winson Cheng, Senior Project Engineer at Metro Vancouver & Colin Jeffery, Project Engineer at Kerr Wood Leidal (PDF)