Benchmarking energy efficiency in wastewater treatment plants: A latent class analysis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Improving energy efficiency in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is critical for reducing operational costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study evaluates the energy performance of 203 Spanish WWTPs using a latent class stochastic frontier analysis, a method that accounts endogenously for unobserved heterogeneity across facilities. This methodological approach provides policy-relevant insights by uncovering operational heterogeneity that conventional models overlook, enabling class-specific benchmarking and more targeted interventions aligned with the energy-neutrality objectives of Directive (EU) 2024/3019. The analysis identifies two distinct operation classesEstimated energy efficiency scores average 0.581 for Class 1 and 0.639 for Class 2, indicating potential energy savings of up to 41.9 % and 36.1 %, respectively, without compromising treatment quality. These savings translate into annual reductions of 16.9 GWh, €1.48 million in energy costs, and 4399 tCO 2 equivalent in GHG emissions. The results emphasize the importance of class-specific benchmarking and support the use of frontier-based indicators over traditional energy intensity metrics. This approach offers actionable insights for meeting the energy neutrality targets and highlights the need for tailored strategies in optimizing WWTP energy performance. • A latent class stochastic frontier analysis was applied to assess energy efficiency. • Two operational classes were identified, revealing unobserved heterogeneity. • Potential energy savings of up to 41.9 % were identified. • Results support class-specific benchmarking over pooled models.
Institutions: New York College, Universidad de Valladolid
Language: English
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,350
OpenAlex ID: W4416541071