The Water – Energy Nexus:
A Marriage of Convenience
By:
Charles Chindove
November 11, 2016

The Concept
Water Systems Energy Needs
Energy Systems Water Needs
Vulnerability of Energy to Water Constraints
Concluding Remarks
The Water – Energy Nexus: A Marriage of Convenience

The concept:
The relationship between the water used for energy production
(primary energy and electricity production) and energy consumed
to extract, purify, deliver, heat/cool and dispose of waste water.
All forms of energy production consumes water directly or Indirectly
and
Energy is needed access to water and make it usable
The Water – Energy Nexus: A Marriage of Convenience

Water Systems Energy Needs
Source: International Energy Agency

Source: United States Department of Energy (DOE)
Energy Systems Water Needs

The vulnerability of energy to water constraints
India (2012): Delayed Monsoon
Blackouts lasting several days - Over 600 million people.
China (2011): Drought
Limited hydro generation along the Yangtze river - Electricity rationing.
Vietnam and Philippines (2010): Drought (the El Niño weather phenomenon).
Reduced hydro generation and causing electricity shortages.
China (2008): Dozens of planned coal-to-liquids (CTL) projects were abandoned
due in part to concerns they would place heavy burdens on scare water resources
Southeast United States (2007): Drought
Tennessee Valley Authority curtailed hydro generation, reduced output from nuclear
and fossil fuel-based plants to conserve water.
Midwest United States (2006): Heat wave
Reduced output from nuclear plants because of the high water temperature of the
Mississippi River.
France (2003): Heat wave
Reduced output from nuclear power plants equivalent to the loss of 4-5 reactors -
Estimated €300 million to import electricity by Électricité de France (EDF).
Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, France, U.S (parts): Public concern over potential
impact of unconventional gas production on the environment and water resources
prompted additional regulation and, in some jurisdictions, temporary moratoria or
bans on hydraulic fracturing (IEA 2012).

Concluding Remarks
Managing water and energy resources require:
The nexus approach – Systems integration
Biofuels vrs. Food and Water Security. Electric Cars vrs. Water Security.
@ Environment
@ Climate change
@ Economic aspects
@ Social aspects
@ Population growth
@ Food security
Water Energy Nexus conflicts, synergies and trade-offs

References:
Biggs et al., 2015. Sustainable development and the water–energy–food nexus: A perspective on livelihoods.
Cheng, H. (2009). “Meeting China’s Water Shortage Crisis: Current Practices and Challenges.” Environmental Science & Technology, 43(2),
240-244
Copeland, C., 2014. Energy-Water Nexus: The Water Sector’s Energy Use.
Gleick, P. (1994), “Water and Energy”, Annual Review of Energy and Environment, Vol. 36, No. 3, Annual Reviews, Palo Alto, United States,
pp. 267-299.
Griffiths-Sattenspiel, B. and Wilson. W., 2009. The Carbon Footprint of Water, River Network, Hereinafter, The Carbon Footprint of Water.
Ringler, C., Bhaduri, A., Lawford, R., 2013. The nexus across water, energy, land and food (WELF): potential for improved resource use
efficiency? Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustainability 5, 617–624.
King C.W & Webber M.E., 2008. The Water Intensity of the Plugged-In Automotive Economy. Environ. Sci. Technol., pp 4305–4311 Available
at: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es800367m
Schornagel, J., et al. (2012), “Water Accounting for (Agro) Industrial Operations and its Application to Energy Pathways”, Resources,
Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 61, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 1-15.
Torcellini, P., N. Long and R. Judkoff (2003), Consumptive Water Use for US Power Production, National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Golden, United States.
U.S. Department of Energy. 2006. Energy demands on water resources: report to congress on the interdependency of energy and water. Sandia
National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/08/120817-record-heat-drought-pose-problems-for-electric-power-grid/
https://www.odi.org/events/4000-tackling-trade-offs-food-water-energy-nexus-lessons-sdgs