Veolia technology to help turn San Francisco wastewater into renewable local energy

Veolia, through its Water Technologies & Solutions division, has secured a $34 million contract to provide biogas upgrading technology for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) Southeast Treatment Plant. Originally built in 1952, this essential facility is currently undergoing a $3 billion upgrade, shifting its role from a conventional wastewater treatment plant to a modern resource recovery center. The transformation will enable the facility to convert wastewater byproducts into renewable, low-carbon energy for the local community.

As a global leader in water technology, Veolia will deploy its MemGas™ system to purify raw biogas produced through anaerobic digestion at the plant. This process will upgrade the biogas into biomethane—a renewable natural gas suitable for injection into Pacific Gas & Electric’s distribution network. Once fully operational, the project will utilize 100% of the biogas generated on-site and is expected to produce enough renewable energy to meet the natural gas needs of about 3,800 homes (68 GWh/year). The system is anticipated to be in service by June 2027.

Daniela Brandao, Senior Project Manager at SFPUC, stated: “This project fulfills our commitments for beneficial use of the biogas generated at the Southeast Treatment Plant, supports California’s state goals for in-state production and distribution of renewable natural gas, and aligns with the City’s sustainability objectives. We are excited to see the positive impact this project will have on our community and the environment!“

The transformation will enable the facility to convert wastewater byproducts into renewable, low-carbon energy for the local community

Anne Le Guennec, Senior Executive Vice President for Worldwide Water Technologies at Veolia, added: “This transformative project showcases how cities can create truly circular systems that not only meet performance criteria but generate clean, renewable energy from what was once considered waste. The SFPUC exemplifies environmental leadership by creating a sustainable energy source right in their backyard, setting a powerful example for cities worldwide. This project is a concrete demonstration of our GreenUp strategy in action, perfectly embodying Veolia's ecological transformation objectives through its focus on decarbonization and circular solutions. By converting waste into renewable energy, we're showing how our innovative technologies can drive the ecological transformation for a sustainable future.”

The Southeast Treatment Plant is responsible for treating approximately 80% of San Francisco’s combined stormwater and wastewater, with an average dry weather flow of 45 million gallons (170,300 cubic meters) per day. The plant’s modernization will include systems to capture and refine the biogas produced during treatment using advanced conditioning and separation technologies.

This initiative marks a major step forward in sustainable infrastructure, generating renewable energy while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 31,000 metric tons of CO₂e annually. It demonstrates how operational efficiency and environmental stewardship can work in tandem.