An Analysis of Electricity Consumption Patterns in the Water and Wastewater Sectors in South East England, UK

The water and wastewater sectors are energy-intensive, and so a growing number of utility companies are seeking to identify opportunities to reduce energy use. Though England’s water sector is of international interest, in particular due to the early experience with privatisation, for the time being very little published data on energy usage exists. We analyse telemetry data from Thames Water Utilities Ltd. (TWUL), which is the largest water and wastewater company in the UK and serves one of the largest mega-cities in the world, London. In our analysis, we (1) break down sectoral energy use into their components, (2) present a statistical method to analyse the long-term trends in use, as well as the seasonality and irregular effects in the data, (3) derive energy-intensity (kWh m3) figures for the system, and (4) compare the energy-intensity of the network against other regions in the world. Our results show that electricity use grew during the period 2009 to 2014 due to capacity expansions to deal with growing water demand and storm water flooding. The energy-intensity of the system is within the range of reported figures for systems in other OECD countries. Plans to improve the efficiency of the system could yield benefits in lower the energy-intensity, but the overall energy saving would be temporary as external pressures from population and climate change are driving up water and energy use.

Download Full-text

An Analysis of Electricity Consumption Patterns in the Water and Wastewater Sectors in South East England, UK

Water ◽

10.3390/w12010225 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 225 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aman Majid ◽

Iliana Cardenes ◽

Conrad Zorn ◽

Tom Russell ◽

Keith Colquhoun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Use ◽

Energy Intensity ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Published Data ◽

Electricity Use ◽

External Pressures ◽

The World ◽

Water And Wastewater ◽

South East England ◽

The Uk

The water and wastewater sectors of England and Wales (E&W) are energy-intensive. Although E&W’s water sector is of international interest, in particular due to the early experience with privatisation, for the time being, few published data on energy usage exist. We analysed telemetry energy-use data from Thames Water Utilities Ltd. (TWUL), the largest water and wastewater company in the UK, which serves one of the largest mega-cities in the world, London. In our analysis, we: (1) break down energy use into their components; (2) present a statistical approach to handling seasonal and random cycles in data; and (3) derive energy-intensity (kWh m−3) metrics and compare them with other regions in the world. We show that electricity use in the sector grew by around 10.8 ± 0.4% year−1 as the utility coped with growing demands and stormwater flooding. The energy-intensity of water services in each of the utility’s service zone was measured in the range 0.46–0.92 kWh m−3. Plans to improve the efficiency of the system could yield benefits in lower energy-intensity, but the overall energy saving would be temporary as external pressures from population and climate change are driving up water and energy use.

Download Full-text

Creation of Zero CO2 Emission Plants Due to Energy Use: A Case Study in Crete, Greece

Studies in Engineering and Technology ◽

10.11114/set.v5i1.2961 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 55

Author(s):

John Vourdoubas

Keyword(s):

Co2 Emissions ◽

Carbon Emissions ◽

Co2 Emission ◽

Energy Use ◽

Energy Intensity ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Photovoltaic System ◽

Tree Plantation ◽

Electricity Use ◽

Solar Photovoltaic System

Creation of zero CO2 emission enterprises due to energy use in Crete, Greece has been examined with reference to an orange juice producing plant (Viochym). Energy intensity at Viochym has been estimated at 1.66 KWh per € of annual sales. Oil used for heat generation has been replaced with solid biomass produced locally in Crete and resulting in zero CO2 emissions due to the use of heat. Offsetting CO2 emissions due to grid electricity use has been proposed with two options. The first includes the installation of a solar photovoltaic system with nominal power of 417 KWp, according to net metering regulations, generating annually 625 MWh equal to annual grid electricity consumption in the plant. Its capital cost has been estimated at 0.5 mil € which corresponds to 1.07 € per kg of CO2 saved annually.The second option includes the creation of a tree plantation in an area of 107 hectare resulting in carbon sequestration equal to carbon emissions in the plant due to electricity use. Both options for offsetting CO2 emissions in Viochym have various advantages and drawbacks and they are considered realistic and feasible, resulting in the elimination of its carbon emissions due to energy use. Improvement of the energy intensity of various processes in Viochym could result in lower CO2 emissions and smaller sizing of the required renewable energy systems for eliminating them.

Download Full-text

Evaluating the Energy Intensity of the US Public Water System

ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Parts A, B, and C ◽

10.1115/es2011-54165 ◽

2011 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kelly M. Twomey ◽

Michael E. Webber

Keyword(s):

Energy Use ◽

Energy Intensity ◽

Water System ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Water Systems ◽

Treatment Facility ◽

The Us ◽

Water And Wastewater ◽

End Use ◽

Regional Water

Previous analyses have concluded that the United State’s water sector uses over 3% of national electricity consumption for the production, conveyance, and treatment of water and wastewater and as much as 10% when considering the energy required for on-site heating, cooling, pumping, and softening of water for end-use. The energy intensity of water is influenced by factors such as source water quality, its proximity to a water treatment facility and end-use, its intended end-use and sanitation level, as well as its conveyance to and treatment at a wastewater treatment facility. Since these requirements differ by geographic location, climate, season, and local water quality standards, the energy consumption of regional water systems vary significantly. While national studies have aggregated averages for the energy use and energy intensity of various stages of the of the US water system, these estimates do not capture the wide disparity between regional water systems. For instance, 19 percent of California’s total electricity generation is used to withdraw, collect, convey, treat, distribute, and prepare water for end-use, nearly doubling the national average. Much of this electricity is used to move water over high elevations and across long distances from water-rich to water-stressed regions of the state. Potable water received by users in Southern California has typically been pumped as far as 450 miles, and lifted nearly 2000ft over the system’s highest point in the Tehachapi Mountains. Consequently, the energy intensity of San Diego County’s water is approximately 11,000 kWh per million gallons for pumping treatment and distribution, as compared to the US average which is estimated to be in the vicinity of 1,500–2,000 kWh per million gallons. With added pressures on the state’s long-haul transfer systems from population growth and growing interest in energy-intensive desalination, this margin will likely increase. This manuscript consists of a first-order analysis to quantify the energy embedded in the US public water supply, which is the primary water source to residential, commercial, and municipal users. Our analysis finds that energy use associated with the public water supply is 4.7% of the nation’s annual primary energy and 6.1% of national electricity consumption, respectively. Public water and wastewater pumping, treatment, and distribution, as well as commercial and residential water-heating were considered in this preliminary work. End-use energy requirements associated with water for municipal, industrial, and self-supplied sectors (i.e. agriculture, thermoelectric, mining, etc.) were not included in this analysis.

Download Full-text

Energy Transition toward Cleaner Energy Resources in Nepal

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13084243 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 4243

Author(s):

Pokharel Tika Ram ◽

Rijal Hom Bahadur

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Socioeconomic Development ◽

Energy Use ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Energy Transition ◽

Well Being ◽

Energy Resources ◽

Electricity Use ◽

Per Capita ◽

Cooking Fuels

Energy is an important input for socioeconomic development and human well-being. The rationality of energy transitions toward cleaner energy resources is not only to improve individual living conditions, but also to enhance the economic growth of a nation. Nepal is considered to be one of the countries with a low per-capita electricity use, heavily relying on traditional energy resources such as firewood and agricultural residues. The country is rich in hydropower resources. However, various economic and socioeconomic constraints have left the significant potential for hydroelectricity untapped. This study describes the energy transition patterns in Nepal based on a literature review and field survey of household energy use in the winter. We collected data from 516 households in the Solukhumbu, Panchthar, and Jhapa districts of Nepal. The rate of per-capita electricity consumption was 330 kWh/capita/year, which is significantly lower than that of other contemporary global societies such as India 1000 and China 4900 kWh/capita/year. The increasing trend in hydroelectricity production has optimistically transformed the energy sector toward cleaner resources; this correlates with the GDP per capita. Solar home systems, mini- and micro-hydropower plants, biogas technology, and improved cook stoves have been widely used, which has lowered the health and environmental burdens in rural areas. By analysing the survey data, we found that 25% of the households only relied on traditional cooking fuel, while 67% and 8% of the households relied on mixed and commercial cooking fuels, respectively. Moreover, 77% and 48% of traditional and mixed-fuel-using households were unhappy with current cooking fuels while 40% and 66% of these households preferred to use clean cooking fuels. The share of traditional energy resources decreased from 78% to 68%, while that of commercial energy resources increased from 20% to 28% from 2014/15 to 2019/20. This study suggests that future energy policies and programs should acknowledge the reality of energy transition to achieve sustainability by establishing reliable and clean sources of energy.

Download Full-text

The Changing of Taiwan Housing Energy Intensity and Emission Intensity

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.174-177.3556 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 174-177 ◽

pp. 3556-3559

Author(s):

Kun Jung Hsu

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Energy Use ◽

Energy Intensity ◽

Balance Sheet ◽

Major Effect ◽

Electricity Use ◽

Emissions Intensity ◽

Energy Use Intensity ◽

Energy Type ◽

Logarithmic Growth

Combining the informations of Taiwan energy balance sheet and National Housing Survey, the paper explores the changing of the housing energy use intensity and emissions intensity. Results of the analysis showed that electricity is the dominant energy type used in Taiwan housing from 1986 to 2005; the accumulated logarithmic growth of electricity use intensity from 1986 to 2005 was 60.1%. The accumulated logarithmic growth rate of electricity emissions intensity from 1986 to 2005 was 96.9%. The major effect of Taiwan housing emissions intensity was electricity use intensity during the study period.

Download Full-text

Analysis of Methodology for Scaling Up Building Retrofits: Is There a Role for Virtual Energy Audits?—A First Step in Hawai’i, USA

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14185914 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (18) ◽

pp. 5914

Author(s):

Mark B. Glick ◽

Eileen Peppard ◽

Wendy Meguro

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Large Scale ◽

Energy Use ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Initial Step ◽

Existing Building ◽

Electricity Use ◽

Energy Audits

Energy audits are a time-consuming and expensive initial step in the building retrofit process. Virtual energy audits purport to be an alternative that remotely identifies energy efficiency measures (EEMs) that may reduce electricity consumption and offset operational costs to businesses operating during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This case study reviews virtual energy audits as a means to benchmark energy use and estimate cost savings from future EEMs. A novel feature was the estimation of energy costs associated with increasing ventilation to improve indoor air quality. The authors analyzed ten virtual energy audits performed in Honolulu, Hawai’i, over a two-week period that used existing building information and electricity use data to estimate a potential 9% to 41% annual electricity use reduction per building and a 24 MWh to 1195 MWh reduction, respectively. This paper makes a significant contribution through its assessment of virtual energy audits as a step beyond benchmarking, which has merit as an educational tool to motivate business owners to reduce energy use and improve indoor air quality. Further evaluation and improvements are suggested to study how often the virtual energy audits instigate action, how they compare with in-person audits, and their potential for use at a large scale.

Download Full-text

Insights into rainfall undercatch for differing raingauge rim heights

Hydrology Research ◽

10.2166/nh.2019.024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (6) ◽

pp. 1564-1576 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Katie Muchan ◽

Harry Dixon

Keyword(s):

Ground Surface ◽

Ground Level ◽

Field Trials ◽

The World ◽

The Common ◽

Operational Practices ◽

South East England ◽

The Uk ◽

A Site ◽

The Impact

Abstract The measurement of rainfall has a long history, but despite its apparent simplicity it is difficult to quantify accurately. The common installation of raingauges with rims above the ground surface results in a difference between the rainfall caught and the amount reaching ground level, termed undercatch. The UK standard installation of raingauges is for their rim to be sited at 0.305 m above the ground; however, the use of weighing gauges installed at a minimum rim height of 1 m has increased in recent years. The installation of these weighing raingauges raises complex questions of homogeneity in rainfall data across space and time. Here, we investigate the impact of these changes using field trials of commonly deployed UK raingauges at a site in south-east England. This paper discusses the results of the trial, exploring the variation in and potential drivers of undercatch with differing gauge sitings. With varying standards for gauge heights around the world and new rainfall measurement technologies coming to the market all the time, improved understanding of undercatch is needed to inform evolving operational practices and explore the possibility of developing catch correction algorithms to remove arising inhomogeneity in precipitation datasets.

Download Full-text

Study on Household Energy Usage Patterns in Urban and Rural Areas of Nepal

Journal of the Institute of Engineering ◽

10.3126/jie.v15i3.32761 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 402-410

Author(s):

Dinesh Kumar Shahi ◽

Hom Bahadur Rijal ◽

Masanori Shukuya

Keyword(s):

Rural Area ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Energy Use ◽

Family Income ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Income Level ◽

Electricity Production ◽

Electricity Use

In the last decades, the household’s energy demand has increased significantly in various countries including Nepal. In the case ofNepal, 94% of energy use is in the domestic sector. There is a possibility of a huge increase in electricity production, but we are stillsuffering from load shedding due to the high electricity demand. Electricity use is an important factor for the quality of life anddevelopment of a nation. There is not a sufficient number of researches done about electricity consumption in different climaticregions of Nepal which are analyzed by the income level of residents. This study gives descriptive information on the household’senergy uses patterns and investigates the electricity use rate, using electrical appliances in households. This study also identifies themajor source of energy use and awareness of energy use. The data were collected from 442 households in three regions in the winterseason of 2018. Kalikot is a rural area, Chitwan is a semi-urban, and Kathmandu is an urban area. We have collected electricity bills,family income, and family size, electricity using appliances, expenditure for energy and energy use for heating/cooling, cooking, andlighting. The electricity was used only for lighting purposes in the rural area, but other electrical appliances were used in semi-urbanand urban areas. The amount of electricity use has not affected by household income level in the rural area, but it has affected in semi-urban and urban areas. The level of education affects the use of the LED significantly. This study would be helpful to know theelectricity use patterns which is useful for energy saving and energy management of the rural and urban areas of Nepal.

Download Full-text

Analysis of The Covid-19 Impact on Electricity Consumption and Production

10.20944/preprints202010.0348.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mehmet Bulut

Keyword(s):

Social Life ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Electricity Production ◽

Full Time ◽

Mass Consumption ◽

Electricity Use ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

The World ◽

New Type ◽

The Impact

With the year 2020, the world faced a new threat that affects all areas of life, negatively affects production in all areas, and paralyzes social life. The measures and restrictions taken by the country's governments to prevent the epidemic from spreading rapidly in the society with the effect of the Covid-19 virus, which first appeared in China and spread all over the world, brought a new lifestyle. Covid-19 has been much the impact on electricity use and electricity production in the period in Turkey as in other countries. There was a sharp decline in commercial and industrial electricity use. The coronavirus effect has also been reflected in the electricity demand and the consumption amount has undergone a great negative change. Due to the enactment of measures against the new type of coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic and the partial or full-time curfews, electricity consumption was moved to homes, supermarkets, and hospitals in April 2020 from places where mass consumption is intense, such as industry, workplaces, and educational institutions. In this study, Covid-19 period, the first cases were examined electricity production and consumption in Turkey as of the date it is seen throughout, in comparison with electricity consumption data in the same month of the previous years corresponding to this period, the effects on electricity generation and consumption habits of this period were examined.

Download Full-text