What is Excess Pressure Recovery (EPR)?

When we recently polled the golf and agricultural communities, the verdict was unanimous: Water is the number one sustainability challenge. This comes as no surprise to anyone managing land in the arid West—cost, consumption, and stewardship are front-and-center.

But there is a "missing half" of the water conversation. The story of water isn't just about volume; it is about pressure and flow. And that makes it an energy story.

At Tap Energy, based right here in Erie, Colorado, we are pioneering a concept called Excess Pressure Recovery (EPR).

The Definition: Excess Pressure Recovery (EPR)

Excess Pressure Recovery (EPR) is the process of capturing the potential energy that is typically wasted in pressurized water systems and converting it into usable electricity.

In standard irrigation and industrial networks—whether for a golf course in the Front Range or a ski resort in the Rockies—operators rely on Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) to step down high pressure and protect infrastructure. EPR technology replaces or supplements these standard valves with micro-hydro turbines that perform the same pressure-reduction function but generate power in the process.

The Problem: The "Energy Thief" in Your Pumphouse

To understand EPR, you have to understand the inefficiency it solves.

Your irrigation system is a high-pressure network designed to move water across vast acreage. However, not every pipe or sprinkler head can handle the full force of the mainline pressure. This is where the PRV comes in.

A PRV’s sole function is to bleed off excess pressure. It dissipates that powerful potential energy as heat and friction. While the PRV is a necessary component for safety, it acts as an "energy thief," throwing away a valuable resource with every single irrigation cycle.

For facilities in Colorado, where pumping costs are rising alongside water rates, this "thief" represents a significant missed opportunity.

The Solution: A Power Plant in Your Pipes

Tap Energy’s EPR solution turns that friction into a resource. Instead of burning off pressure, we harvest it.

Here is how Excess Pressure Recovery works:

• Harnessing the Mainline: A compact, in-line turbine is installed on a primary line, typically just after the pumphouse where system pressure is at its peak.

• Generating Power: As water flows through the turbine, the force of the required pressure drop spins the internal rotor. This generates a steady, predictable stream of clean electricity.

• Offsetting Costs: This electricity is fed directly back into your facility's grid. It can offset the energy consumption of the very pumps creating the pressure, or power adjacent facilities like a clubhouse or maintenance shed.

  
  

Why EPR Matters Now

The most innovative solutions often address a core problem from an unexpected angle. While the industry remains laser-focused on water volume, EPR allows you to address your other major expense: Energy.

• Zero Disruption: You don't change your water usage or your irrigation schedule.

• Asset Creation: You transform a point of waste into a point of production.

• Sustainability: It creates a powerful hedge against rising electricity rates.

The future of sustainable operations isn't just about using less; it's about being smarter with the resources you already have. Excess Pressure Recovery allows you to look at your water system not just as a cost center, but as a renewable energy asset.

Ready to find the hidden power in your water lines? At Tap Energy, we help industry professionals, golf courses, and businesses across the Front Range unlock their potential.