Simulation research on greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants under the vision of carbon neutrality

doi:10.12006/j.issn.1673-1719.2021.026

Abstract

Abstract:

Large amounts of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are released during the operation of sewage treatment plants, which are important sources of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Based on 2005-2015 statistical data and IPCC accounting methods, the CH₄ and N₂O emissions from domestic sewage treatment plants in China from 2005 to 2015 were estimated, characteristics and influencing factors were analyzed. Three emission reduction scenarios (low emission reduction, medium emission reduction and high emission reduction) were set based on the carbon neutral background, and emission trends and temporal and spatial changes from 2020 to 2050 were estimated. The results showed that the greenhouse gas emissions of sewage treatment plants increased steadily from 2005 to 2015. CH₄ increased from 11.35 Mt CO₂e to 15.01 Mt CO₂e, and N₂O increased from 26.51 Mt CO₂e to 27.87 Mt CO₂e, the average annual growth rate was 2.8% and 0.5%, respectively. Under the three emission reduction scenarios, CH₄ and N₂O emissions from 2020 to 2050 show a trend of increase first and then decrease, and CH₄ and N₂O emissions under the low emission reduction scenario will peak in 2036 and 2025, respectively, with 24.31 Mt CO₂e and 28.19 Mt CO₂e; CH₄ peaks in the medium and high emission reduction scenarios will occur in 2027 and 2025, respectively, while the peak N₂O emissions will both occur in 2025. Compared with the low emission reduction scenario, the respective emission reduction rates of CH₄ emissions under the medium and high emission reduction scenarios are about 47% and 94% in 2050. N₂O emissions under the low, medium and high emission reduction scenarios in 2050 will be reduced by 12%, 53% and 95% respectively compared with 2015. There are significantly spatial differences in the emissions of CH₄ and N₂O. East China has the highest emissions and Northwest China has the lowest ones. The overall emission pattern is that the provinces in the southeast are higher than those in the northwest. Among the influencing factors, the level of economic development is closely related to greenhouse gas emissions.

Key words: Wastewater treatment plant, Emission scenarios, Carbon neutrality, Greenhouse gases

REN Jia-Xue, GAO Qing-Xian, CHEN Hai-Tao, MENG Dan, ZHANG Yang, MA Zhan-Yun, LIU Qian, TANG Jia-Jie. Simulation research on greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants under the vision of carbon neutrality[J]. Climate Change Research, 2021, 17(4): 410-419.

Figures/Tables 6

Table 1 Emission scenario description and settings

Table 2 The assumption of future key social variables

Fig. 1 Greenhouse gas emissions during 2005-2015

Fig. 2 Simulation trend of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020-2050

Fig. 3 Greenhouse gas emissions under different emission reduction scenarios in various regions in 2050

Fig. 4 Spatial distribution of greenhouse gas emissions under high emission reduction scenario in 2050

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