The feasibility and challenges of energy self-sufficient wastewater treatment plants

Gu, Yifan; Li, Yue; Li, Xuyao; Luo, Pengzhou; Wang, Hong-Tao; Robinson, Zoë; Wang, Xin; Wu, Jiang; Li, Fengting

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.02.069

Cited by 259 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 124 publications

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“…Speaking about the penetration of the renewable energy sources into the traditional electricity and power systems, one has to look deeper into the specifics. In many countries, hydro sources are often needed to generate energy for almost all fuels and technologies to generate electricity, and energy is needed to treat and transport both water and wastewater [31][32][33]. A fascinating case study on the subject is the state of California in the United States with its large water supply systems (which require a lot of energy for pumping) that moves water from the relatively humid northern areas of the state to the drier and more populated southern region (including the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Diego) [34].…”

Section: Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Renewable Energy and EU 2020 Target for Energy Efficiency in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

et al. 2020

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Our paper focuses on the renewable energy and EU 2020 target for energy efficiency in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We study the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in these two EU Member States through the prism of the Europe 2020 strategy and the 3 × 20 climate and energy package and economic growth (represented by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that allows to measure the national dynamics and provide cross-country comparisons) without attributing specific attention to issues such as the electrification of transport or heating, and thence leaving them outside the scope of this paper. Both Czech Republic and Slovakia are two post-Communist countries that still face the consequences of economic transformation and struggle with the optimal management of natural resources. Both countries encountered profound system transformation after 1989 that are apparent in all three measures of sustainable development used in our study. We show that it is unlikely that the planned increase in renewable energy in the Czech Republic and Slovakia will reach its targets, but they might succeed in reducing their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Our findings show that the energy intensity of Czech and Slovak economies increased in the early 2000s and then stabilized at a level about twice of the EU average. It appears that this value is likely to remain the same in the forthcoming years. However, implementation of GHG emissions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia may be at risk in case the proper energy policy is not maintained. Moreover, our results show how the increase in the share of renewable energy and improvement in energy efficiency go hand-in-hand with mining and exploiting the energy sources that is notorious for the transition economies. We also demonstrate that a proper energy policy is required for effectively reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. There is a need for commitments made by relevant stakeholders and policymakers targeted at achieving sustainable economic growth and energy efficiency. In addition, we demonstrate that there is a need for maintaining a proper balance between economic development and environmental protection, which is a must for the EU sustainable energy development agenda and all its accompanying targets for all its Member States.

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Section: Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Renewable Energy and EU 2020 Target for Energy Efficiency in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

et al. 2020

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“…Therefore, the produced digestion gas is mostly used in CHP units in WWTPs to produce electricity. The present literature shows that increasing self-sufficiency is still the dominant topic rather than an interest in holistic and overarching utilization of the different energy forms (e.g., [33][34][35]). This is mostly caused by missing incentives and the regulatory framework and taxes, which makes selling gas/electricity not economically viable in contrast to a use on-site (e.g., in Germany; [9]).…”

Section: Ch 4 Utilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Possible Roles of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sector Coupling

2020

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The development of a power system based on high shares of renewable energy sources puts high demands on power grids and the remaining controllable power generation plants, load management and the storage of energy. To reach climate protection goals and a significant reduction of CO 2 , surplus energies from fluctuating renewables have to be used to defossilize not only the power production sector but the mobility, heat and industry sectors as well, which is called sector coupling. In this article, the role of wastewater treatment plants by means of sector coupling is pictured, discussed and evaluated. The results show significant synergies-for example, using electrical surplus energy to produce hydrogen and oxygen with an electrolyzer to use them for long-term storage and enhancing purification processes on the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Furthermore, biofuels and storable methane gas can be produced or integrate the WWTP into a local heating network. An interconnection in many fields of different research sectors are given and show that a practical utilization is possible and reasonable for WWTPs to contribute with sustainable energy concepts to defossilization.Energies 2020, 13, 2088 2 of 20 reached, like in Uruguay, Germany and the United Kingdom [6]. The gradual extension of RES and the expedited abandonment of fossil and nuclear energy production results in new problems but also new opportunities for power supplies. There is a shift from demand-oriented power generation to a production-driven generation of electrical energy. In an electricity system with a high share of RES, flexibility options are needed to counterbalance fluctuating wind and solar-based power production to maintain the high standards in its supply [7]. For now, there are just a few hours of surplus energy but with proportions of more than 60% RES; times in which supply exceeds demand are increasing significantly. On this basis, there will be a high need of short-term flexibility in the near future to stabilize power grids and further integrate RES into the energy grids [8]. Short-term storage options are classified in the range of seconds up to 24 h (daily storage). These energy surpluses and deficits have to be balanced by flexible energy generators and consumers. Furthermore, long-term storage capacities are needed to provide enough energy in times of deficits on a larger scale. This is caused by longer periods of low amounts of available wind and sun. To compensate these fluctuations and store or generate energy, based on its availability, fundamentally different applications compared to short-term flexibility are required [9].Energy has always been stored, but the focus and the technologies used have changed. Storage concepts like pumped storage plants, battery or compressed air systems are not suitable for long-term storage-too expensive or cannot provide enough capacities for an extensive use in every country [10]. Additionally, ecological issues and resource scarcity have to be considered. Unlike solar and wind-based energy p...

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“…For many countries of the EU, the use of thermal processes for the management of sludge produced in STPs, for energy purposes, is estimated to double by 2020, with 2012 as a base year, corresponding to around 37% of sludge management options (Kelessidis and Stasinakis, 2012). Therefore, it is expected that the sludge, usually characterized as the type of residue disposed of in landfills, will become an energy source, a paradigm change regarding its final destination (Gu et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy potential of biogas and sludge from UASB reactors in the State of Paraná, Brazil

et al. 2020

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Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors are widely used for domestic sewage treatment in Brazil, and generate sludge and biogas as by-products. Typically, the sludge is sent to sanitary landfills, and the biogas is burned in flares. This study assessed the energy potential of these by-products in sewage treatment plants (STPs) located in the state of Paraná, Brazil. First, an overview of biogas energy recovery potential in a full-scale STP based on UASB reactors was carried out. Afterwards, a total of 239 STPs in the state of Paraná were assessed, and the energy potential of the by-products was estimated by a mathematical model. Data were spatially classified using ArcGIS®, taking into account the different effluent characteristics (worst, typical and best scenario), sludge dehydration systems (drying bed and centrifuge) and sizes (small, medium and large). Among the states in Brazil, Paraná presented the highest biogas potential, although nowadays it exploits only 0.4% of its capacity. Biogas was the main by-product generated by UASB reactors in Paraná, and if used in the entire state, it could supply the energy demands of a city with 111,000 inhabitants. Biogas corresponded to 65, 64 and 74% of the total potential (sludge and biogas) for small, medium and large STPs, respectively. The study of the energy potential of the by-products associated with GIS tools positively contributes to the decision-making process in sanitation management and to improve energy sustainability.

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The feasibility and challenges of energy self-sufficient wastewater treatment plants

Cited by 259 publications

References 124 publications

Renewable Energy and EU 2020 Target for Energy Efficiency in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Renewable Energy and EU 2020 Target for Energy Efficiency in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

The Possible Roles of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sector Coupling

Energy potential of biogas and sludge from UASB reactors in the State of Paraná, Brazil

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