1.
© OECD/IEA 2017
Water and the Sustainable Development
Scenario
Molly A. Walton, Tim Gould and Andrew Prag
Webinar, 10 April 2018

2.
© OECD/IEA 2017
17 UN Sustainable Development Goals

3.
© OECD/IEA 2017
Sustainable
Development
Scenario
The aim in WEO-2018 is to quantify the energy needs of SDG 6, the water needs of the
energy-related SDGs & to assess the links and synergies between these objectives
A new strategy for energy & sustainable development

4.
© OECD/IEA 2017
Global energy use in the water sector and water use in the energy sector, New Policies Scenario
Can we ensure sustainable development for all if we don’t understand
and properly manage the energy-water nexus?
Supply
Wastewater treatment
Desalination/re-use
Primary energy production
Power generation
2014
2040
Water sector energy consumption
50 100 150 200 250 300
Mtoe
+130%
2014
2040
bcm
20 40 60 80
Energy sector water consumption
+59%
The linkages are intensifying

5.
© OECD/IEA 2017
SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation for all
 6.1: Universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
 6.2: Universal access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open
defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls
 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, halve the proportion of untreated wastewater and
substantially increase recycling and safe reuse globally
 6.4: Increase water-use efficiency across all sectors, ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply for
freshwater to address water scarcity and lower number of people suffering from water scarcity
 6.5: Implement Integrated Water Resource Management at all levels
 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems
 6 A/B: Expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries and
strengthen participation by local communities

6.
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Providing clean water requires energy
Electricity demand in the water sector, New Policies Scenario
As freshwater availability increasingly becomes a constraint in some areas, is it possible to
provide access to clean water without incurring a significant energy penalty?
400
800
1 200
1 600
2014 2020 2030 2040
TWh
Rest of water sector
Desalination
Supply & Distribution

7.
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The wastewater sector is a significant energy consumer
Global electricity consumption in municipal wastewater treatment
Will meeting Target 6.2 & 6.3 dramatically increase electricity demand or can developing
countries leapfrog in terms of the systems used & chart a more sustainable path?
50
100
150
200
250
BAU Implementing energy
efficiency & energy recovery
2014 2040
TWh

8.
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The energy sector requires water
Global water requirements for the energy sector, New Policies Scenario
How can the energy sector improve on how much freshwater it uses?
100
200
300
400
2014 2040
bcm
Withdrawal
20
40
60
80
2014 2040
Biofuels
Fossil fuels
Renewables
Nuclear
Gas
Coal
Consumption
Primary energy:
Power:

9.
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The importance of the nexus for other SDGs
Global water use by the energy sector by scenario
Can the world meet its climate goals if it does not properly manage its water resources?
0
25
50
75
100
100
200
300
400
2014 2040
bcm
bcm
Main Scenario
2 Degree Scenario
Consumption
Withdrawals:
2040

10.
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Areas without energy and water often overlap
Population gaining access by source
Are decentralised renewables the solution
to providing access to energy and access to clean water?
Fossil fuels
39%
2017-2030
Coal
16%
Gas
9%
Other
14%
2000-2016
Renewables
30%
Coal
45%
Gas
19%
Other, 7%
Renewables
61%
Renewables
30%
Grid
27%
Renewables
61%
Decentralised
38%
Grid
23%

11.
© OECD/IEA 2017
Key questions for our ongoing work
 How much energy will be required to achieve Target 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3?
 How will this differ between rural and urban areas?
 What potential solutions and technologies can attain multiple SDG targets at once?
 Can developing countries leapfrog in terms of the systems and technologies they put
in place?
 How can advancements in recycling and reuse and energy efficiency and energy
recovery in wastewater in developed countries be put into practice?
 What is the energy production potential from wastewater under these targets?
 How can smart project design and technology solutions increase the efficiency of water
use in the energy sector and help achieve Target 6.4?
 What actions is the energy sector already taking?
 What opportunities exist to co-ordinate water use or reuse with other sectors?

12.
© OECD/IEA 2017
Next steps
 Integrate today’s feedback into work plan
 Continued data collection and stakeholder engagement
 Baseline indicator data for SDG 6 being aggregated for progress report to be released at UN
HLPF in July
 Energy intensity of decentralised water supply and sanitation technologies, especially in rural
areas
 Amount of non-freshwater being used in oil and gas production; levels of recycling and reuse
 Peer-review August 2018
 WEO Launch 13 November 2018

13.
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iea.org/weo/water