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- Title
ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF A MUNICIPAL COMPANY IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY - CASE STUDY.
- Authors
ŁUKASZCZYK, Zygmunt
- Abstract
Purpose: Energy self-sufficiency of a municipal company in a circular economy refers to the ability of the company to meet its own energy needs through the use of renewable energy sources and efficient energy technologies. The closed loop economy, also known as the circular economy, is about minimising waste by maximising the use and reprocessing of raw materials and energy. Design/methodology/approach: The paper provides a detailed analysis of the energy self-sufficiency of Przedsiębiorstwo Wodociągów i Kanalizacji sp. z o.o. based in Rybnik, in the production of heat and electricity from biogas produced at a sewage treatment plant. Findings: Collected over the period 2013-2022, the data of the analysed company allows us to conclude that in the process of wastewater treatment, the biogas burned for the needs of the wastewater treatment plant in Rybnik-Orzepowice makes it self-sufficient in terms of thermal needs. In turn, the production of electricity from cogeneration covers 43% of the electricity demand. A deeper analysis of the amount of biogas produced showed the need to build a new generator to produce electricity, which will result in the analysed company being self-sufficient in energy. Biogas plants at municipal wastewater treatment plants bring many environmental and economic benefits, such as: - Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding the release of methane into the atmosphere and replacing fossil fuels with biogas. - Saving the cost of operating the treatment plant by reducing the consumption of grid electricity and heat and fossil fuels, and reducing the amount of waste to be landfilled or disposed of. Originality/value: Energy self-sufficiency for a municipal company not only contributes to environmental protection by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but can also result in financial savings by reducing the cost of purchasing energy from external sources. Furthermore, these actions can set an example for other businesses and communities, encouraging them to make similar investments in renewable energy and efficient energy technologies.
- Subjects
CIRCULAR economy; BIOGAS industry; GREENHOUSE gas mitigation; ELECTRIC power consumption; ELECTRICITY pricing; RENEWABLE energy sources; SEWAGE disposal plants; SELF-reliant living
- Publication
Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization & Management / Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Slaskiej. Seria Organizacji i Zarzadzanie, 2023, Issue 189, p373
- ISSN
1641-3466
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.29119/1641-3466.2023.189.23