Energy Recovery from Wastewater Treatment Plants in the United States: A Case Study of the Energy-Water Nexus

Ashlynn S. Stillwell, David C. Hoppock and Michael E. Webber
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Ashlynn S. Stillwell: Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C1786, Austin, TX 78712, USA
David C. Hoppock: Climate Change Policy Partnership, Duke University, Box 90335, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Michael E. Webber: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C2200, Austin, TX 78712, USA

Sustainability, 2010, vol. 2, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: This manuscript uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to analyze the potential for energy recovery from wastewater treatment plants via anaerobic digestion with biogas utilization and biosolids incineration with electricity generation. These energy recovery strategies could help offset the electricity consumption of the wastewater sector and represent possible areas for sustainable energy policy implementation. We estimate that anaerobic digestion could save 628 to 4,940 million kWh annually in the United States. In Texas, anaerobic digestion could save 40.2 to 460 million kWh annually and biosolids incineration could save 51.9 to 1,030 million kWh annually.

Keywords: wastewater; energy; biogas; biosolids incineration; energy recovery; policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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