Energy recovery and saving in municipal wastewater treatment engineering practices

Ao Gong, Guangteng Wang, Xiang Qi, Yunfei He, Xufei Yang (), Xia Huang and Peng Liang ()
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Ao Gong: Tsinghua University
Guangteng Wang: Tsinghua University
Xiang Qi: Tsinghua University
Yunfei He: Tsinghua University
Xufei Yang: South Dakota State University
Xia Huang: Tsinghua University
Peng Liang: Tsinghua University

Nature Sustainability, 2025, vol. 8, issue 1, 112-119

Abstract: Abstract Municipal wastewater treatment (MWT) plays a critical role in safeguarding aquatic ecosystems but is highly energy intensive. Assessing the energy recovery and saving potential of MWT technologies is essential to propel the sustainable transformation of this sector. Prioritizing practical viability, this study compiled data from 50 real-world cases, including both full-scale engineering projects and pilot studies, to systematically evaluate the energy recovery and saving potential of different technologies. The effectiveness of these technologies was systematically assessed by comparing their theoretical and practical energy densities. The results indicate that anaerobic digestion for methane production is so far the most efficient method for chemical energy recovery. Among various energy-saving strategies, water source heat pumps were identified as an effective approach for substantial energy savings. However, it is important to recognize that the heat energy, calculated solely on the basis of the temperature difference in wastewater, cannot be directly compared with the electrical energy recovered from other conversion processes. The role of heat energy in energy saving needs to be carefully reassessed and repositioned. This study provides valuable guidance for future energy optimization and the sustainable transformation of MWT practices.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01478-5

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