Opportunities to improve energy use in urban wastewater treatment: a European-scale analysis

摘要: Wastewater treatment is an essential public service that has a major impact on energy use in the urban water cycle, thus receiving increasing attention context of Water-Energy Nexus. Understanding current for wastewater step to design reliable policies promoting more efficient resources. This paper develops pan European estimation electricity wastewater, based dataset plants (WWTPs) across continent. Prediction been performed using statistical model accounts economies scale. Different scenarios improvements efficiency have investigated understand possible reductions consumption at continental The overall WWTP Europe (only with no less than 2000 population equivalent (PE) considered) was estimated 24 747 GWh yr-1, about 0.8% EU-28. Small (less 50 000 PE) represent almost 90% total number plants, but process only 31% PE and require 42% use. Plants from mid very large size (more PE), being 10% 70% 58% If all average were shifted value, saving would be slightly 5500 yr-1. With highly stringent targets improvement, 13 500 yr-1 could expected. Further considerations emerging role WWTPs as material producer are finally discussed.