RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Accounting for heterogeneity in the water-energy-carbon nexus: Evidence from english and welsh water utilities
A1 Maziotis, Alexandros
A1 Molinos Senante, María
K1 water-energy-carbon nexus
K1 heterogeneity
K1 latent class analysis
K1 stochastic frontier analysis
K1 water utilities
K1 drinking water
K1 3308 Ingeniería y Tecnología del Medio Ambiente
AB Improving energy and carbon efficiency in the provision of water services is essential towards more sustainableurban water cycle. This study investigates the performance of water companies in England and Wales byexplicitly incorporating heterogeneity into the evaluation of the water-energy-carbon nexus. A novel Water-Energy-Emissions Performance Index (WEEPI) is developed using a latent class stochastic frontier analysis(SFA) framework, accounting for unobserved differences in production technologies across utilities. The analysis,based on data from 2011 to 2019, reveals two distinct classes of water companies. Class 1 companies generallydemonstrate slightly higher WEEPI scores than Class 2 companies with average WEEPI of 0.949 and 0.938,respectively. The study finds that economies of scale are prevalent in Class 2 companies, suggesting strategicgrowth opportunities, while Class 1 companies face diminishing returns. Moreover, environmental factors suchas average pumping head and treatment complexity exert class-specific impacts on efficiency. These findingsunderscore the importance of tailoring regulatory frameworks and incentives to company-level heterogeneity,thereby supporting more equitable and effective transitions towards carbon-neutral and energy-efficient waterservices
PB Elsevier
SN 0043-1354
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/80991
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/80991
LA eng
NO Water Research, 2026, vol. 291, p. 125185
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 23-dic-2025