Wastewater as a new source of energy

Abstract

Wastewater generated in municipalities and industries contains harmful pollutants which can have a negative impact on the environment. In developed countries, about 70-80% of municipal and industrial wastewater is collected and requires appropriate treatment and disposal. Treating wastewater takes a significant amount of energy – just under 1% of Europe’s total energy consumption. However, wastewater contains significant energy potential. From the technical, economic and formal-legal side, they can be used in two ways: by using the thermal energy of wastewater and processing it to the level of technical water and its reuse. Also, sludge from wastewater treatment plant can be used in processes of anaerobic or co-digestion for production of biogas. This paper analyzes the possibility of using heat pumps and heat exchangers for wastewater heat recovery in buildings, as well as the possibility of using sludge in anaerobic digestion or co-digestion processes.