Evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions from the European urban wastewater sector, and options for their reduction

In this contribution, we propose a quantification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater collection, treatment and discharge in Europe, taking into account the use of electricity and reagents, construction of the infrastructure, and emissions of methane and nitrous oxide stemming from the operation of processes. We estimate that the EU emits now about 34 million tonnes CO2 equivalent per year, of which about 14 million tonnes due to the infrastructure alone. The most effective ways to reduce emissions are (1) the decarbonization of electricity used in the processes, combined with the valorization of the biogas, and (2) the achievement of better nitrogen removal performances. we show that the first way may lead to a reduction of emissions (excluding infrastructure) by about 40%, while an upper limit under the second way would be a reduction by about 60% with respect to the current conditions.

PARRAVICINI Vanessa;  NIELSEN P.H.;  THORNBERG Dines;  PISTOCCHI Alberto; 

2022-11-14

ELSEVIER

JRC128717

0048-9697 (online),   

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722034192?via%3Dihub,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC128717,   

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156322 (online),