Evaluating carbon performance in the water industry: A longitudinal analysis of England and Wales

The transition to a zero-carbon water industry presents significant challenges for water companies and regulators. This study conducts both static and longitudinal assessments of carbon performance of water companies in England and Wales from 2008 to 2020. Carbon efficiency (CE) and carbon productiv...

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Main Authors: Alexandros Maziotis, Ramon Sala-Garrido, Manuel Mocholi-Arce, Maria Molinos-Senante
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024018231
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author Alexandros Maziotis
Ramon Sala-Garrido
Manuel Mocholi-Arce
Maria Molinos-Senante
author_facet Alexandros Maziotis
Ramon Sala-Garrido
Manuel Mocholi-Arce
Maria Molinos-Senante
author_sort Alexandros Maziotis
collection DOAJ
description The transition to a zero-carbon water industry presents significant challenges for water companies and regulators. This study conducts both static and longitudinal assessments of carbon performance of water companies in England and Wales from 2008 to 2020. Carbon efficiency (CE) and carbon productivity (CP) metrics were estimated using the stochastic semi non-parametric envelopment of data method, which addresses the limitations of traditional parametric and non-parametric techniques. The average CE in 2020 was 0.628, indicating a 37.2% potential reduction in carbon emissions can be achieved by water companies. Despite regulatory efforts, the dynamic assessment shows negligible improvement in carbon performance, with average CP index value of 1.0009. The lack of technological innovation is identified as a key barrier, as technical change contributed negatively (0.9929) to CP, while efficiency change was positive (1.0091). The results highlight the critical role of raw water quality in achieving net-zero GHG emissions. Some strategies to accelerate the decarbonization of the water industry include prioritizing raw water protection, incentivizing technological advancements, and fostering knowledge sharing among companies.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2590-1230
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Results in Engineering
spelling doaj-art-cb49da21521f464f82d84b5581fcc1042024-12-19T11:00:00ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302024-12-0124103580Evaluating carbon performance in the water industry: A longitudinal analysis of England and WalesAlexandros Maziotis0Ramon Sala-Garrido1Manuel Mocholi-Arce2Maria Molinos-Senante3Department of Business, New York College, Leof. Vasilisis Amalias 38, Athens 105 58, GreeceDepartamento de Matemáticas Para la Economía y la Empresa, Universidad de Valencia, Avd. Tarongers S/N, Valencia, SpainDepartamento de Matemáticas Para la Economía y la Empresa, Universidad de Valencia, Avd. Tarongers S/N, Valencia, SpainInstitute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, C/ Mergelina S/N, Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technologies, University of Valladolid, C/ Mergelina S/N, Valladolid, Spain; Corresponding author at: Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, C/ Mergelina S/N, Valladolid, Spain.The transition to a zero-carbon water industry presents significant challenges for water companies and regulators. This study conducts both static and longitudinal assessments of carbon performance of water companies in England and Wales from 2008 to 2020. Carbon efficiency (CE) and carbon productivity (CP) metrics were estimated using the stochastic semi non-parametric envelopment of data method, which addresses the limitations of traditional parametric and non-parametric techniques. The average CE in 2020 was 0.628, indicating a 37.2% potential reduction in carbon emissions can be achieved by water companies. Despite regulatory efforts, the dynamic assessment shows negligible improvement in carbon performance, with average CP index value of 1.0009. The lack of technological innovation is identified as a key barrier, as technical change contributed negatively (0.9929) to CP, while efficiency change was positive (1.0091). The results highlight the critical role of raw water quality in achieving net-zero GHG emissions. Some strategies to accelerate the decarbonization of the water industry include prioritizing raw water protection, incentivizing technological advancements, and fostering knowledge sharing among companies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024018231Carbon productivity changeCarbon efficiencyGreenhouse gas emissionsStochastic non-parametric analysisEnvironmental variablesWater utilities
spellingShingle Alexandros Maziotis
Ramon Sala-Garrido
Manuel Mocholi-Arce
Maria Molinos-Senante
Evaluating carbon performance in the water industry: A longitudinal analysis of England and Wales
Results in Engineering
Carbon productivity change
Carbon efficiency
Greenhouse gas emissions
Stochastic non-parametric analysis
Environmental variables
Water utilities
title Evaluating carbon performance in the water industry: A longitudinal analysis of England and Wales
title_full Evaluating carbon performance in the water industry: A longitudinal analysis of England and Wales
title_fullStr Evaluating carbon performance in the water industry: A longitudinal analysis of England and Wales
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating carbon performance in the water industry: A longitudinal analysis of England and Wales
title_short Evaluating carbon performance in the water industry: A longitudinal analysis of England and Wales
title_sort evaluating carbon performance in the water industry a longitudinal analysis of england and wales
topic Carbon productivity change
Carbon efficiency
Greenhouse gas emissions
Stochastic non-parametric analysis
Environmental variables
Water utilities
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024018231
work_keys_str_mv AT alexandrosmaziotis evaluatingcarbonperformanceinthewaterindustryalongitudinalanalysisofenglandandwales
AT ramonsalagarrido evaluatingcarbonperformanceinthewaterindustryalongitudinalanalysisofenglandandwales
AT manuelmocholiarce evaluatingcarbonperformanceinthewaterindustryalongitudinalanalysisofenglandandwales
AT mariamolinossenante evaluatingcarbonperformanceinthewaterindustryalongitudinalanalysisofenglandandwales