event 05 Aug 2021

Research article // Wastewater resources management for energy recovery from circular economy perspective

By Mohanna Zarei. This article provides an overview of wastewater treatment and management for energy production from a circular economy point of view. It also offers clarity for the water-energy nexus approach in the specific context of wastewater resources. This review focuses on the energy recovery from wastewater resources in the management framework, and it discusses challenges that are more related to the societal, regulatory, and political aspects emphasizing the period of 2010–2020. Therefore, it provides challenges, benefits, and future opportunities for development leaders, scientific communities, and stakeholders for better decision-making, sustainable development, and efficient cooperation.

Wastewater flows and sources Source WWAP UN Water 2017

Wastewater flows and sources (Source: WWAP (UN Water, 2017)).

Highlights

  • Energy recovery from wastewater is evaluated in a circular economy framework.
  • Several technologies presented for energy recovery from WWTP’s effluents.
  • Challenges and opportunities is discussed for energy recovery in the CE concept.
  • Integrated framework is needed to examine all the possible solutions.

Abstract

To remediate significant risks such as increasing resources consumption, climate change, and environmental pollutions which affect resource management and security, energy recovery from wastewater could be a feasible approach towards the circular economy (CE). Wastewater management for energy recovery creates an exceptional opportunity which bringing environmental, political, economic, and social benefits. Transition to CE addresses many of the wastewater reuse obstacles and energy recovery barriers, from public acceptance to financial and policy management. This review focuses on the energy recovery from wastewater resources as a potential alternative in the CE framework and evaluates different energy recovery technologies. Since decision makers have to address challenges which are more related to the societal, regulatory, and political aspects prior to execute fundamental actions, the practical strategies on implementation of energy recovery from wastewater emphasizing the period of 2010–2020 are proposed. Furthermore, several successful case studies for energy recovery from wastewater as a systematic approach, which cover all potential scenarios are reviewed.

Keywords

Wastewater management; Energy recovery; Climate change; Circular economy; Environmental pollutions

Published

2020

By

Water-Energy Nexus

Citation

Zarei, M. (2020). Wastewater resources management for energy recovery from circular economy perspective. Water-Energy Nexus, 3, 170–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wen.2020.11.001

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Wastewater resources management for energy recovery from circular economy perspective

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