New Research Shows How Leading Water Utilities Are Paving the Way to Net Zero
11 November 2024 - 12:00PM
Business Wire
- Water Sector Accelerating Decarbonization in Effort to Cut 2%
of World’s Carbon Emissions
- 75% of surveyed utilities intend to achieve GHG reduction goals
by 2040, with 48% having set a specific net-zero emissions
target
World leaders are gathering this week in Baku, Azerbaijan, to
accelerate the decarbonization of the world economy at the 29th
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change. The water sector, which accounts for
almost 2% of the world’s carbon emissions, is answering the call
with ambitious strategies to deploy advanced technology to cut the
sector’s carbon footprint.1
A recent survey of more than 100 utilities by water technology
company Xylem (NYSE: XYL) showed that 75% of utilities have set
greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals that they plan to achieve by
2040 or earlier, with 48% having set a specific net-zero emissions
target.2 As highlighted in Xylem's new paper, Net Zero: Utilities
Setting the Pace on Decarbonization, these targets reflect growing
momentum across the water sector in the fight against climate
change.
Water and wastewater utilities are often the largest power users
in cities and can generate powerful methane and nitrous oxide
emissions. Leading utilities are deploying replicable approaches
that any community can use to cut emissions from their water
systems and make their communities more water secure. Xylem’s
research shows how these experiences can serve as a framework for
achieving rapid and lasting emissions reductions across the
sector:
- Prioritize energy efficiency for quick wins: Pumping,
treatment, and distribution processes consume large amounts of
electricity. Energy-efficient technologies can deliver immediate
decarbonization results across the sector. For example, Scottish
Water has deployed high-efficiency smart pumping systems that cut
energy consumption by 40% and reduce unplanned maintenance costs by
99%.
- Combine net zero and climate adaptation efforts: By
uniting greenhouse gas reduction and resilience strategies,
utilities can fast-track decarbonization and adaptation. In
Santiago, Chile, Aguas Andinas is turning wastewater into renewable
energy through anaerobic digestion. By converting organic waste
into biogas, the utility generates energy onsite to cut emissions,
reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and enhance energy security for
critical water treatment processes. These measures, combined with
purchasing renewable energy and finding efficiencies, have enabled
the utility to reduce GHG emissions by 25%.
- Manage emissions across all operational processes:
Utilities are adopting an end-to-end approach, addressing emissions
across all operational processes, from energy generation to
wastewater treatment. After reaching net energy neutrality in 2023
with renewable sources such as solar and hydropower, Ruhrverband of
Essen, Germany, is deploying advanced sensors to monitor and
address nitrous oxide emissions and leveraging artificial
intelligence to identify further emission reduction
opportunities.
The research highlights how water utilities are adopting
cutting-edge solutions – from smart pumping systems to digital
monitoring tools – to reduce emissions, optimize performance, and
extend the life of critical assets. It shows that utilities have a
wide variety of tools to help them reach net-zero targets faster
and more efficiently.
“By deploying advanced technologies, we can make our assets work
harder and smarter,” said Nathan Wield, Wastewater Operations West
Manager for Scottish Water. “Not only does this improve efficiency,
but it also prolongs the life of our equipment, reduces service
disruptions, and improves our overall environmental impact.”
Alexis de Kerchove, Senior Director, Client Sustainability, at
Xylem, said, “Innovative utilities are demonstrating that water
sector emissions are a solvable problem – and that net zero can be
a catalyst for optimization, delivering positive social impacts and
cost savings. By scaling these approaches, the entire sector could
reach net zero faster than previously imagined.”
To read the Xylem Net Zero paper, visit
https://www.xylem.com/en-us/campaigns/net-zero/.
About Xylem
Xylem (XYL) is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company that
empowers customers and communities to build a more water-secure
world. Our 23,000 diverse employees delivered combined pro forma
revenue of $8.1 billion in 2023, optimizing water and resource
management with innovation and expertise. Join us at www.xylem.com
and Let’s Solve Water.
1 Estimates from Global Water Intelligence 2 Global Water and
Wastewater Utilities Take Aim at Climate Change
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