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Water and Energy Nexus and Challenges

Michela MilettoWWAP, Coordinator a.i.

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People without access to improved water

0.76 billion

People whose right to water is not satisfied

3.5 billion

People without access to improved sanitation

2.5 billion

People lacking access to electricity

1.3 billion

People using solid fuels for cooking

2.6 billion

THE MAJORITY OF THE UNSERVED POPULATION RESIDES IN LDCS AND SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA IN PARTICULAR

FRESHWATER AND ENERGY ARE CRUCIAL FOR HUMAN WELL BEING AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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POPULATION USING SOLID FUELS FOR COOKING AND WITHOUT ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY, IMPROVED WATER AND SANITATION

IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE FIGURES CONCERNING ACCESS TO WATER/SANITATION SERVICES AND ENERGY ALIGN SO WELL.

IT IS OFTEN THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE MISSING OUT ON BOTH.

THE CASE OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (selected representative countries):

Using solid fuel for cooking

No access to electricity

No access to improved

water

No access to sanitation

78% 66% 31% 78%

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WATER AVAILABILITY: APPROACHING CRITICAL LIMITS

Annual average scarcity in major river basins (1995-2005)

Map prepared for GEO5 (UNEP)

Map prepared for GEO5 (UNEP)

Increase of 1% per year of total freshwater withdrawals (1987-2000)

Increase by 55% by 2050 of global water demand in terms of withdrawals

6Water stress of aquifers important for farming (Nature 488, 197–200)

WATER AVAILABILITY: APPROACHING CRITICAL LIMITSMajor aquifers

20% of the world’s aquifers are over-exploited

Groundwater abstraction increasing by 1% -2% per year

7Water withdrawals and consumption vary for fuel production (IEA, 2012)

HOW MUCH WATER IS REQUIRED FOR PRIMARY ENERGY PRODUCTION?

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(IEA, 2012).

GROWING DEMAND FOR ENERGY

Increase by 1/3 by 2035.Currently, energy accounts for 15% of all freshwater withdrawals.

9World electricity generation by source of energy in 2010

WHERE DOES OUR

ELECTRICITY COME FROM?

Fact: 80% of the world’s electricity is provided by fossil fuels and nuclear power

Electrical power generation is expected to increase by 70% by 2035!

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HOW MUCH WATER IS REQUIRED FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION?

Water use for electricity generation by cooling technology (IEA, 2012)

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Stanford University Global Climate and Energy Project

New technologieslargely sustainable

Peaking fossil fuels

WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

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THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NEXUS: ENERGY FOR WATER

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FOSSIL FUELS AND ELECTRICITY GENERATION:

THE BIG CHALLENGE…

approximately 90% of global power generation is water intensive

nuclear

coaloil

diesel

natural gas

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POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS?

Africa 92%

Asia 80%

Australia/Oceania

80%

Latin America 74%

Hydropower undeveloped potential

90% of expected increase in 2010-2035 would be in non OECD Countries

HYDROPOWER

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POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS?

From a water perspective, solar photovoltaic and wind are the most sustainable sources for power generation but they provide an intermittent service.

GEOTHERMAL

WIND

SOLAR

Use of geothermal energy for power generation is underdeveloped and its potential is greatly underappreciated. It is climate independent, produces minimal or near-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,does not consume water, and its availability is infinite at human time scales.

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR SYNERGIES: CO-PRODUCING ENERGY AND WATER SERVICES

• Combined power and desalination plants

• Alternative water sources for thermal power plant cooling

• Combined heat and power plants

• Sewage water energy recovery

Thank you

Launch of the United Nations World Water Development Report 2014

“WATER AND ENERGY” World Water Day21 MARCH 2014

UNU CAMPUS, Tokyo, Japan

SAVE THE DATE!

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