Flexible supply-demand side management towards a sustainable decentralized distribution network: A net-negative Water-energy-emissions Nexus assessment

Severe water and energy shortfalls hinder widespread access and challenge sustainable resource management in various supply systems. This study proposed a new decentralized distribution network with net-negative emissions concept and flexible strategies to ensure efficient water and mix-energy with low-carbon emissions The proposed net-negative water-energy emission decentralized distribution network (N-NWEE-D₂N) was formulated by assessing spatio-temporal interactions at local-regional scale of multi-sector water and energy demand and supply using flexible nexus regulation strategies. The feasibility of self-production and CO₂-based regeneration from biogas recovery in activated sludge process and non-renewable energy generation, respectively, was investigated. The N-NWEE-D₂N-based water-energy distribution showed an effective balance between supply and demand, with low deficits, efficient surplus utilization, and reduced CO₂ emissions. The water and energy management efficiencies based on N-NWEE-D₂N improved by 67.196% and 78.11%, respectively, compared to scenarios without such considerations, due to the effective decentralized distribution of water and energy among the regions. Thus, proposed N-NWEE-D₂N can contribute to the sustainable operation of WWTPs and promoting long-term sustainability in water and energy distribution transmission.