Renewable energy resources and recovery opportunities in wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

This paper shows the different methodologies for energy recovery and renewable energy utilization techniques in Wastewater treatment plants which are one of the largest consumable of electric power. Technologies discussed in this paper will help a lot of developing countries like Egypt-which suffers from the lack of energy resources-to save energy. This process contains embedded energy resources that could be recovered and reduce the energy requirements of such plants, for example biogas generation through anaerobic digestion with the possibility of applying the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technologies or biosolids thermal conversion. Also the raw water specific heat itself could be used for heating or cooling. To reach self-sustainability the plant can get the rest of its energy demand through conventional renewable resources such as solar, wind, hydro and tidal power.