Opportunities and Challenges for Research on Heat Recovery from Wastewater: Bibliometric and Strategic Analyses

Sabina Kordana-Obuch (), Michał Wojtoń, Mariusz Starzec and Beata Piotrowska
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Sabina Kordana-Obuch: Department of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Michał Wojtoń: Department of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Mariusz Starzec: Department of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Beata Piotrowska: Department of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-36

Abstract: The potential for recovering heat from wastewater exists at various stages, including generation, transport, and treatment. As a result, various technologies for thermal energy recovery from wastewater are now successfully employed in many countries. In order to synthetically present the current state of knowledge on heat recovery from wastewater, a bibliometric analysis of previously published studies indexed in the Web of Science database was performed. The review was further extended with strategic SWOT and SOAR analyses to identify internal and external factors determining the competitive advantage and weaknesses related to the use of wastewater heat exchangers and heat pumps. These analyses indicated the need for further research on the possibilities of heat recovery from wastewater as the use of this technology, both at the building level and on a larger scale, contributes to the implementation of sustainable development goals, especially in terms of improving energy efficiency and reducing CO 2 emissions. Particular emphasis should be placed on research into the use of warm wastewater together with other, better known and accepted, renewable energy sources. It is also important to continuously educate the public and promote heat recovery technologies at various levels, as well as to increase the involvement of legislators and other stakeholders.

Keywords: greywater; sewage; thermal energy recovery; waste heat recovery; heat exchanger; heat pump; Bibliometrix; VOSviewer; SWOT; SOAR (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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