Energy efficiency in Spanish wastewater treatment plants: A non-radial DEA approach

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are energy-intensive facilities. Thus, reducing their carbon footprint is particularly important, both economically and environmentally. Knowing the real operating energy efficiency of WWTPs is the starting point for any energy-saving initiative. In this article, we applied a non-radial Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology to calculate energy efficiency indices for sampling of WWTPs located in Spain. In a second stage analysis, we examined the operating variables contributing to differences in energy efficiency among plants. It is verified that energy efficiencies of the analyzed WWTPs were quite low, with only 10% of them being efficient. We found that plant size, quantity of organic matter removed, and type of bioreactor aeration were significant variables in explaining energy efficiency differences. In contrast, age of the plant was not a determining factor in energy consumption. Lastly, we quantified the potential savings, both in economic terms and in terms of CO 2 emissions, that could be expected from an improvement in energy efficiency of WWTPs. ► Non radial Data Envelopment Analysis methodology to obtain an efficiency indicator for each of the variables in the process. ► Operating energy efficiency of WWTPs as the starting point for any energy-saving initiative. ► Assessment of energy efficiency as a measure to reduce the carbon footprint of the WWTPs. ► The role of internal and external factors in WWTP energy efficiency. ► Potential savings of CO 2 emissions and economic costs as a result of efficiency improvements.