We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Energy Self-Sufficiency Aiming for Sustainable Wastewater Systems: Are All Options Being Explored?
- Authors
Llácer-Iglesias, Rosa M.; López-Jiménez, P. Amparo; Pérez-Sánchez, Modesto; Spasiano, Danilo
- Abstract
In upcoming years, water demand is expected to boost worldwide, and with that, wastewater generation and the required energy for treatment. Provided that efficiency measures should be implemented at first instance, developments of renewable energy technologies are needed to improve sustainability at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Based on theoretical analyses of literature data, this article presents a novel perspective of the role that hydropower could play in that energy framework. This research applied a new approach compared to previous studies, considering the introduction of sustainability aspects in the decision-making process, other than economic feasibility. With that aim, a broad search of real case studies was conducted, and suitable Key Performance Indicators based on the energy self-sufficiency concept were selected and applied to the identified cases. The findings suggest that there is not a rule of thumb to determine feasibility for hydropower installation and this technology might deserve more attention. This new perspective can help to raise awareness among policy makers, decision managers, or plant operators, of the possibilities hydropower could offer to the wastewater industry in the pathway towards more sustainable systems.
- Subjects
SEWAGE disposal plants; SEWAGE; SELF-reliant living; ENERGY development; SEWAGE purification
- Publication
Sustainability (2071-1050), 2021, Vol 13, Issue 10, p5537
- ISSN
2071-1050
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/su13105537