Carbon footprint of municipal wastewater treatment plants

摘要

Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) is a significant consumer for energy and source of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. A life-cycle GHG analysis is necessary for WWTPs to understand the carbon footprint, identify emission hotspots, and propose optimization measures to reduce GHG emissions. This study utilizes the concept of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to identify the system boundary and set up the accounting models for inventory analysis. A case study has been carried out based on the account models and electricity consumption, N_2O emission and biosolids treatment have been identified as significant emissions sources for a WWTP in northeastern China.