Assessment of energy efficiency in wastewater treatment plantsTurning data into useful information

Abstract

Nowadays, there is a vast amount of data on wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with a high potential for energy performance improvement. The goal of this thesis is therefore to investigate the applicability and suitability of data analysis to transform that available data into useful information and input for effective benchmark. However, WWTPs operations are unique so benchmarking methodologies need to be properly adapted for their best use in the wastewater sector. The techniques described, used and improved here offer important support to overcome these difficulties and are demonstrated to be useful tools to allow the improvement of WWTPs operation. In particular by offering guideline on how to define energy efficiency of WWTPs and assessing the causes of unexplained variation in energy performance, the outcomes of this thesis are expected to move WWTPs towards increasing energy efficiency.