What does kWh/m³ mean for water and wastewater plants?

kWh/m³ is the energy intensity: the electricity used to treat one cubic meter of water or wastewater. It lets you compare performance across plants of different sizes.

Why does benchmark range change with plant size?

Large plants typically have better economies of scale (larger equipment at higher efficiency, optimized aeration, better control). Small plants often have higher kWh/m³ due to fixed loads and less optimized processes.

How much can VFDs save on pumping energy?

Typical savings are 10–20% of pumping energy when flow varies. Total site savings depend on how much of your energy is used by pumps.

Can biogas cover 50% of WWTP electricity?

Many WWTPs can offset a significant share of electricity using anaerobic digestion + CHP, but it depends on sludge production, digester design, CHP efficiency, and downtime. 50% is a common screening target for medium/large plants with digestion.

Is solar on aeration basins realistic?

Floating PV on basins can be feasible if structural, safety, and O&M constraints are managed. The practical coverage depends on available area, shading, wind loading, and local solar yield.

Water & WWTP Energy Benchmark & Solutions

Stepper

Plant inputs

Facility / plant name

Shown on the printed report.

Plant type

Plant flowm³/day

Use average daily flow. For seasonal plants, use the annual average to get annual energy.

Energy intensitykWh/m³

If you only know annual energy, compute kWh/m³ = kWh/year / (m³/day × 365).

This is a screening benchmark tool. For a full audit and capex-grade feasibility, use Energy Solutions advisory.

Benchmark comparison

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Solution assumptions (editable)

VFD savings on pumping% of pumping energy

Typical screening range: 10–20% (depends on flow variability and control).

Pumping share of total energy% of site kWh

If unknown: 25–35% is common for water plants; WWTP varies by process.

Biogas coverage target% of site kWh

Screening target: up to 50% offset for plants with anaerobic digestion + CHP.

Solar yieldkWh/kWp/year

Set based on location. Typical: 1200–2000 kWh/kWp/year.

Available basin PV coverage% of basin area

Floating PV often uses partial coverage for access, safety, and mixing constraints.

Basin area factorm² per (m³/day)

Screening estimate derived from typical activated sludge aeration basin sizing (HRT and depth). Adjust if you have real area.

Export & data

Export

PDF uses your browser print dialog. CSV contains inputs, benchmark, and solution scenario summary.

Data model (JSON schema)copy

Useful if you want to implement the same logic in a backend, BI dashboard, or ERP tool.

Report

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Water & WWTP Energy Benchmark & Solutions

Facility: —

Generated: —

Annual energy

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kWh/year

Energy intensity

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kWh/m³

Plant summary

Plant

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Type

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Flow

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Annual treated volume

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Annual energy

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Average power

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Benchmark result

Size band benchmark

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Benchmark range

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Your performance

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Interpretation

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Solutions roadmap (screening)

Option	Mechanism	Estimated impact	Notes / checks
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Executive recommendations

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How this benchmark works

The tool uses your inputs to compute annual treated volume and annual energy: kWh/year = (m³/day × 365) × (kWh/m³). It then compares your energy intensity against a size-based range derived from published industry studies and utility benchmarking datasets. The improvement options are screening estimates to help you prioritize actions (controls first, then on-site generation).

Common drivers of high kWh/m³ include over-aeration, poor DO control, constant-speed pumping with throttling, excessive I/I (infiltration/inflow), and aging blowers or diffusers. If your result is above the benchmark, the fastest route to savings is typically controls + maintenance before major capex.

FAQ

What is a “good” kWh/m³ for wastewater treatment?

There is no single number. A typical global range for activated sludge WWTPs is often quoted around 0.27–0.59 kWh/m³ depending on size and technology. Smaller plants tend to be higher; large plants are usually lower.

Does this include energy from biogas?

The input is your delivered electricity intensity (kWh/m³). If you already generate electricity on-site, you can either benchmark based on net grid import (for cost) or gross consumption (for process efficiency). Use the same definition consistently when comparing year to year.

Why is aeration usually the biggest energy consumer?

In activated sludge, oxygen transfer requires large airflow, and blowers run many hours. Over-aeration is common and can often be reduced using DO control, diffuser maintenance, and high-efficiency blowers.

Can I export the report to PDF?

Yes. Use “Download PDF” (it opens your browser print dialog). The print layout is optimized to include the KPI summary, benchmark result, and solutions roadmap.