Integrating Sewage Thermal Energy Use (STEU) and Other Emerging Water-Energy-Waste Technologies into Decentralized/Distributed Systems

The persistent challenges and threats posed by climate change, natural resource depletion, increased pollution, and growing economic inequality have led to a recognition: a sustainable future requires new approaches to the way societies design, build, and operate critical systems. This research analyzed sewage thermal energy use (STEU) and other emerging water-energy-waste technologies, including a techno-economic analysis of these technologies and how they can be integrated into distributed/decentralized systems. This research identified knowledge gaps and developed a research agenda for STEU. With these findings, utilities will gain a better understanding of the subject, technologies, existing efforts, and potential business models and critical partnerships that can result in shared benefits. Published in 2022.

Originally funded as WERF project SIWM-17-16.