Research Brief // Sewage Systems and Energy: Focus on Urban India
By Babette Never. Sewage treatment plants use vast amounts of energy; in many places, they account for the lion’s share of municipal energy consumption. This in itself shows the degree of interconnection between water and energy in sewage systems. Energy efficiency measures offer significant cost saving potential to cities, municipalities and wastewater treatment companies. These measures may include the replacement of subcomponents or whole plants, the replacement of solar-powered sludge drying systems, and in-plant energy/electricity production. The latter can be achieved by means of biogas or combined heat and power production in the treatment plant. A large sewage treatment plant can cover up to 80 percent of its own energy requirements.
