RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Assessing Eco‐Efficiency and the Cost of Carbon Abatement in Wastewater Treatment: Evidence From Spain
A1 Maziotis, Alexandros
A1 Molinos Senante, María
K1 Ingeniería sanitaria
K1 Gestión de residuos
K1 Economía ambiental - España
K1 Cambio climático
K1 Coste del carbono
K1 Ecoeficiencia
K1 Emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero
K1 Análisis de frontera estocástica
K1 Plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales
K1 5312 Economía Sectorial
K1 3308 Ingeniería y Tecnología del Medio Ambiente
K1 5401 Geografía Económica
AB Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a critical role in protecting public health and the environment but are also contributors to carbon emissions. Improving the eco-efficiency of WWTPs is essential for advancing sustainability in the sector. This study proposes a parametric approach using stochastic frontier analysis to evaluate the eco-efficiency of 108 WWTPs in Spain and estimate the marginal cost of reducing GHG emissions. The eco-efficiency index (EcoEI) integrates operational costs, pollutant removal efficiency, and indirect carbon emissions. Results show an average EcoEI of 0.638, suggesting that WWTPs could improve performance by approximately 36%. The estimated marginal abatement cost of carbon emissions ranges from €0.010 to €1.240 per kg CO2eq, with an average of €0.309/kg CO2eq. Significant differences in marginal costs were found across secondary treatment technologies, though not in eco-efficiency scores. These findings have important implications for utilities and regulators aiming to enhance sustainability and meet the targets set by EU Directive 2024/3019.
PB Wiley
SN 0968-0802
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/83840
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/83840
LA eng
NO Sustainable Development, 2026 (Online Version of Record)
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 29-mar-2026