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Energy neutrality potential of wastewater treatment plants: A novel evaluation framework integrating energy efficiency and recovery

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Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) consume large amounts of energy and emit greenhouse gases to remove pollutants. This study proposes a framework for evaluating the energy neutrality potential (ENP) of WWTPs from an integrated perspective. Operational data of 970 WWTPs in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) were extracted from the China Urban Drainage Yearbook 2018. The potential chemical and thermal energies were estimated using combined heat and power (CHP) and water source heat pump, respectively. Two key performance indicators (KPIs) were then established: the energy self-sufficiency (ESS) indicator, which reflects the offset degree of energy recovery, and the comprehensive water-energy efficiency (CWEE) indicator, which characterizes the efficiency of water-energy conversion. For the qualitative results, 98 WWTPs became the benchmark (i.e., CWEE = 1.000), while 112 WWTPs were fully self-sufficient (i.e., ESS ⩾ 100%). Subsequently, four types of ENP were classified by setting the median values of the two KPIs as the critical value. The WWTPs with high ENP had high net thermal energy values and relatively loose discharge limits. The explanatory factor analysis of water quantity and quality verified the existence of scale economies. Sufficient carbon source and biodegradability condition were also significant factors. As the CWEE indicator was mostly sensitive to the input of CHP, future optimization shall focus on the moisture and organic content of sludge. This study proposes a novel framework for evaluating the ENP of WWTPs. The results can provide guidance for optimizing the energy efficiency and recovery of WWTPs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education (Tongji University), China (No. YRWEF 202007). The research was partially supported by the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality Foundation (Nos. 17DZ1202100 and 21230712200). We are also grateful to editors and the anonymous reviewers for their efforts and insightful suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Runyao Huang, Jin Xu, Li Xie, Hongtao Wang & Xiaohang Ni

  2. UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Runyao Huang & Hongtao Wang

  3. Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Li Xie & Hongtao Wang

Authors
  1. Runyao Huang
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  2. Jin Xu
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  3. Li Xie
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  4. Hongtao Wang
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  5. Xiaohang Ni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hongtao Wang.

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Highlights

• Framework of indicators was established based on energy efficiency and recovery.

• Energy neutrality potential of 970 wastewater treatment plants was evaluated.

• Analysis of characteristics and explanatory factors was carried out.

• Pathways for improving the energy neutrality potential were proposed.

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11783_2022_1549_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Energy neutrality potential of wastewater treatment plants: A novel evaluation framework integrating energy efficiency and recovery

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Huang, R., Xu, J., Xie, L. et al. Energy neutrality potential of wastewater treatment plants: A novel evaluation framework integrating energy efficiency and recovery. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 16, 117 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-022-1549-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-022-1549-0

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