Energy saving in wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

This paper uses data from the Chisinau Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) (2018 year) to analyze the potential for energy recovery from wastewater treatment plant via anaerobic digestion with biogas utilization with electricity generation. These energy recovery strategies could help offset the electricity consumption of the wastewater treatment plants and represent possible areas for sustainable energy policy implementation. We estimate that anaerobic digestion could save approximately 14,444,918 kWh annually in Chisinau WWTP. Anaerobic digestion is widely considered as an environmentally friendly technology for sewerage sludge. This study aims to highlight the potential as well as to provide a starting point for further studies regarding the treatment as sewerage sludge using anaerobic digestion in Republic of Moldova and recovery energy that could further reduce electricity cost and reduction of sludge cake.