Thirsty Energy

The tradeoffs between energy and water
have been gaining international attention in recent years as
demand for both resources mount and governments continue to
struggle to ensure reliable supply to meet sectoral needs.
As almost all energy generation processes require
significant amounts of water, and water requires energy for
treatment and transport, these two resources are
inextricably linked. This relationship is the energy-water
nexus. Section one of this paper examines the existing
models, literature, and management frameworks on the nexus,
as it seeks to determine what gaps exist. Section two
describes the water demands of power generation in order to
identify potential areas of future uncertainty and delineate
areas where integrated energy-water management may improve
the reliability of operating power plants and the viability
of schemes. Finally, section three describes possible
solutions that may alleviate challenges resulting from the
link between energy and water by improving energy efficiency
and integrating water resources management into energy planning.