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Embodied energy assessment for ecological wastewater treatment by a constructed wetland

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  • Shao, Ling
  • Wu, Zi
  • Zeng, L.
  • Chen, Z.M.
  • Zhou, Y.
  • Chen, G.Q.

Abstract

Embodied energy as the energy supplied directly and indirectly through input pathways by human society is analyzed for a constructed wetland as a typical ecological engineering. The method of systems accounting as a combination of process and input–output analyses in context of systems ecology is introduced to account the embodied energy as one of the most important ecological indicators of constructed wetland. Based on the latest embodied energy intensity database for the Chinese economy 2007, the embodied energy of a typical constructed wetland in both the construction and operation stages is accounted and compared with those for a cyclic activated sludge plant as a typical conventional wastewater treatment system and a hybrid system of conventional wastewater treatment system and constructed wetland. The indirect energy is revealed to be more important than the on-site direct energy, which accounts for only 30–40% of the total. The energy embodied in the five terms of treating per m3 wastewater and removing per kg BOD, COD, SS, and NH3-N by the constructed wetland is only 6.83%, 17.48%, 13.96%, 22.47% and 9.48% of that by the conventional system, and 9.51%, 38.26%, 27.01%, 39.42% and 13.20% of that by the hybrid system, respectively. The ecological engineering of the constructed wetland is illustrated more favorable than the conventional wastewater treatment due to its considerable ecological benefit.

Suggested Citation

  • Shao, Ling & Wu, Zi & Zeng, L. & Chen, Z.M. & Zhou, Y. & Chen, G.Q., 2013. "Embodied energy assessment for ecological wastewater treatment by a constructed wetland," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 63-71.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:252:y:2013:i:c:p:63-71
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2012.09.004
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    3. Shao, Ling & Chen, G.Q., 2016. "Renewability assessment of a production system: Based on embodied energy as emergy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 380-392.
    4. Snyder, Brian F., 2019. "The Inclusion of Ecosystem Service Valuations in Bioenergy Cost Analysis: A Case Study of Constructed Wetlands in the Neotropics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 196-201.
    5. Wu, Xudong & Li, Chaohui & Shao, Ling & Meng, Jing & Zhang, Lixiao & Chen, Guoqian, 2021. "Is solar power renewable and carbon-neutral: Evidence from a pilot solar tower plant in China under a systems view," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    6. Panepinto, Deborah & Fiore, Silvia & Zappone, Mariantonia & Genon, Giuseppe & Meucci, Lorenza, 2016. "Evaluation of the energy efficiency of a large wastewater treatment plant in Italy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 404-411.
    7. Aamir Mehmood Shah & Gengyuan Liu & Fanxin Meng & Qing Yang & Jingyan Xue & Stefano Dumontet & Renato Passaro & Marco Casazza, 2021. "A Review of Urban Green and Blue Infrastructure from the Perspective of Food-Energy-Water Nexus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-24, July.
    8. Wu, X.D. & Ji, Xi & Li, Chaohui & Xia, X.H. & Chen, G.Q., 2019. "Water footprint of thermal power in China: Implications from the high amount of industrial water use by plant infrastructure of coal-fired generation system," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 452-461.
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