The　implementation　of　some　energy-saving　and　emission　reduction　measures　can　effectively　offset　the　energy　consumption　and　carbon　emissions　in　the　wastewater　treatment　process.　Integrated　policy-making　information　on　carbon-energy-economy　of　these　technologies　is　not　clear　in　national　wastewater　treatment　industry.　This　study　investigated　energy　self-sufficiency,　carbon　neutralization　potential　and　economic　performance　of　wastewater　treatment　industry,　as　well　as　related　synergy　effect　among　the　three　aspects　using　the　proposed　approach.　Then　the　approach　was　used　to　investigate　energy-saving　and　carbon　emission　reduction　potential　of　the　three　technologies　(photovoltaic　power　(PV),　combined　heat　and　power　(CHP)　and　water　source　heat　pump　(WSHP))　and　technological　combinations　as　well　as　related　economic　performance　in　urban　wastewater　treatment　of　Chinese　different　provinces　in　2021.　The　results　showed　that　(1)　The　national　energy　self-sufficiency　is　95%;　therein,　13　provinces　have　the　potential　to　achieve　or　exceed　energy　self-sufficiency　of　100%,　and　the　top　3　provinces　are　Heilongjiang,　Yunnan　and　Hunan.　(2)　The　national　carbon　neutral　potential　is　87%;　therein,　9　provinces　have　the　potential　to　achieve　or　surpass　carbon　neutralization　of　100%,　and　the　top　3　provinces　include　Beijing,　Hunan　and　Shaanxi.　(3)　these　technologies　or　their　combinations　are　potentially　economically　viable　(net　economic　benefit　ratio　＞1),　and　the　top　three　provinces　are　Beijing,　Shaanxi,　and　Inner　Mongolia.　(4)　Generally,　there　are　13　provinces　with　synergy　effect　＞1　in　the　country;　the　top　three　provinces　are　Liaoning,　Heilongjiang　and　Hunan.　Finally,　targeted　policy　suggestions　are　provided　for　Chinese　urban　wastewater　treatment.　The　proposed　approach　can　also　act　as　one　of　decision-making　tools　for　wastewater　treatment　industry　in　other　countries　or　areas　in　the　world.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd