title: Net-Zero-Energy Model for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment.
abstract: A large external energy input prevents wastewater treatment from being environmentally sustainable. A net-zero-energy (NZE) wastewater treatment concept based on biomass energy recycling was proposed to avoid wasting resources and to promote energy recycling in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Simultaneously, a theoretical model and boundary condition based on energy balance were established to evaluate the feasibility of achieving NZE in WWTPs; the model and condition were employed to analyze data from 20 conventional WWTPs in China. A total of six WWTPs can currently export excess energy, eight WWTPs can achieve 100% energy self-sufficiency by adjusting the metabolic material allocation, and six municipal WWTPs cannot achieve net-zero energy consumption based on the evaluation of the theoretical model. The NZE model offset 79.5% of the electricity and sludge disposal cost compared with conventional wastewater treatment. The NZE model provides a theoretical basis for the optimization of material regulation for the effective utilization of organic energy from wastewater and promotes engineering applications of the NZE concept in WWTPs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment of CAS, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Chongqing 400714, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4429-1009
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment of CAS, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Chongqing 400714, China.
authors.forename: Rong-Cong
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment of CAS, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Chongqing 400714, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment of CAS, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Chongqing 400714, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment of CAS, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Chongqing 400714, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment of CAS, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Chongqing 400714, China.
authors.forename: You-Peng
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7332-7464
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment of CAS, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Chongqing 400714, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: College of Urban Construction and Environmental Engineering, Chongqing University , Chongqing 400045, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012722:Sewage; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater