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Mapping Thermal Energy Resource Potentials from Wastewater Treatment Plants

Author

Listed:
  • Georg Neugebauer

    (Institute of Spatial Planning and Rural Development, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Florian Kretschmer

    (Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • René Kollmann

    (Institute of Process and Particle Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 13/3, 8010 Graz, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Michael Narodoslawsky

    (Institute of Process and Particle Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 13/3, 8010 Graz, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Thomas Ertl

    (Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Gernot Stoeglehner

    (Institute of Spatial Planning and Rural Development, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Wastewater heat recovery via heat exchangers and heat pumps constitutes an environmentally friendly, approved and economically competitive, but often underestimated technology. By introducing the spatial dimension in feasibility studies, the results of calculations change considerably. This paper presents a methodology to estimate thermal energy resource potentials of wastewater treatment plants taking spatial contexts into account. In close proximity to settlement areas, wastewater energy can ideally be applied for heating in mixed-function areas, which very likely have a continuous heat demand and allow for an increased amount of full-load hours compared to most single-use areas. For the Austrian case, it is demonstrated that the proposed methodology leads to feasible results and that the suggested technology might reduce up to 17% of the Austrian global warming potential of room heating. The method is transferrable to other countries as the input data and calculation formula are made available. A broad application of wastewater energy with regard to spatial structures and spatial development potentials can lead to (1) increasing energy efficiency by using a maximum of waste heat and (2) a significant reduction of (fossil) energy consumption which results in a considerable reduction of the global warming potential of the heat supply (GWP) if electricity from renewables is used for the operation of heat pumps.

Suggested Citation

  • Georg Neugebauer & Florian Kretschmer & René Kollmann & Michael Narodoslawsky & Thomas Ertl & Gernot Stoeglehner, 2015. "Mapping Thermal Energy Resource Potentials from Wastewater Treatment Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:10:p:12988-13010:d:56320
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Venkatesh, G. & Brattebø, Helge, 2011. "Energy consumption, costs and environmental impacts for urban water cycle services: Case study of Oslo (Norway)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 792-800.
    2. Ashlynn S. Stillwell & David C. Hoppock & Michael E. Webber, 2010. "Energy Recovery from Wastewater Treatment Plants in the United States: A Case Study of the Energy-Water Nexus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-18, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Franz Zach & Florian Kretschmer & Gernot Stoeglehner, 2019. "Integrating Energy Demand and Local Renewable Energy Sources in Smart Urban Development Zones: New Options for Climate-Friendly Resilient Urban Planning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-28, September.
    2. Al-Dahidi, Sameer & Alrbai, Mohammad & Al-Ghussain, Loiy & Alahmer, Ali, 2024. "Maximizing energy efficiency in wastewater treatment plants: A data-driven approach for waste heat recovery and an economic analysis using Organic Rankine Cycle and thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    3. Michael Schäfer & Oliver Gretzschel & Heidrun Steinmetz, 2020. "The Possible Roles of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sector Coupling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Tomasz Łokietek & Wojciech Tuchowski & Dorota Leciej-Pirczewska & Anna Głowacka, 2022. "Heat Recovery from a Wastewater Treatment Process—Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Rosa M. Llácer-Iglesias & P. Amparo López-Jiménez & Modesto Pérez-Sánchez, 2021. "Energy Self-Sufficiency Aiming for Sustainable Wastewater Systems: Are All Options Being Explored?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Gernot Stoeglehner, 2020. "Integrated spatial and energy planning: a means to reach sustainable development goals," Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 473-486, July.
    7. Somogyi, Viola & Sebestyén, Viktor & Domokos, Endre, 2018. "Assessment of wastewater heat potential for district heating in Hungary," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 712-721.
    8. Franz Huber & Georg Neugebauer & Thomas Ertl & Florian Kretschmer, 2020. "Suitability Pre-Assessment of in-Sewer Heat Recovery Sites Combining Energy and Wastewater Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-32, December.
    9. Scaramuzzino, Chiara & Garegnani, Giulia & Zambelli, Pietro, 2019. "Integrated approach for the identification of spatial patterns related to renewable energy potential in European territories," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 1-13.
    10. Abdur Rehman Mazhar & Shuli Liu & Ashish Shukla, 2018. "A Key Review of Non-Industrial Greywater Heat Harnessing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-34, February.
    11. Farzin Golzar & David Nilsson & Viktoria Martin, 2020. "Forecasting Wastewater Temperature Based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Technique and Monte Carlo Sensitivity Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-17, August.

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