WATER Ƃ, " - 7Ƃ/ ,-9-/ -
Global energy demand for desalination has already nearly doubled since 2010, and current trends point to another doubling to 2030 “
solutions that decouple water and energy systems from fossil fuel dependence, as well as focusing on technologies that are resilient to emerging climate shocks. AI boom: It is now well known that data centers consume 1-2% of global electricity and is expected to grow 160% by 2030 to power the AI boom (Goldman Sachs, 2024). However, less known is how data centers also consume water, either directly for cooling, or indirectly through the water requirements of non-renewable electricity generation. For example, around one-fifth of the direct water footprint of US data centers comes from moderately to highly water stressed watersheds, while nearly half are powered by power plants located in water stressed regions (Asthine and Mytton, 2024). This brings to light the importance of efficient data centers, both in terms of energy use as well as water use. Water-energy-food nexus: As 70% of global water withdrawals are from the agricultural sector, it is essential to look at the broader energy-water-food nexus. With a growing global population and rapid urbanization, water demand for irrigation and food production will grow, potentially introducing resource competition and tension between different water using sectors. This is particularly acute in regions where water security and food security are national priorities, such as in the Middle East. In the UAE for example, 85% of all food is imported, and freshwater withdrawals exceed renewable freshwater resources by 160x (AGSIW, 2024). Water-energy solutions therefore need to strike a balance between broader social and human priorities, such as food security. These three converging megatrends of climate-induced water scarcity,
total final energy consumption is expected to increase from 5% today to almost 15% by 2040 (IEA, 2020). Global energy demand for desalination has already nearly doubled since 2010, and current trends point to another doubling to 2030 (IEA, 2024). It is estimated that global GHG emissions from desalination will increase from around 76 megatonnes of CO2e today, to 218 megatonnes by 2040 (Jones et al., 2019). Conversely, energy generation often depends on vast quantities of water, especially for power plants and energy is required to drive all other processes. Energy is prosperity and water is essential for almost every aspect of producing energy, from electricity generation to fossil fuel extraction to biofuels cultivation. The energy sector accounts for roughly 10% of total global freshwater use (IEA, 2023). As we shift towards renewable technologies like solar and wind, the energy system’s dependence on water will also decrease. What are the most critical challenges in balancing the interdependence between water and energy systems, particularly as climate change intensifies? As producing clean water often requires significant energy, and energy production relies on water-intensive processes, this feeds a feedback loop that intensifies resource scarcity and environmental degradation. Some key challenges in balancing this interdependence include: Climate change: Climate change complicates the water-energy nexus by altering both the energy and water systems, for example by exacerbating water scarcity through droughts, or by increasing energy demand for cooling due to increasing temperatures. Striking a balance requires innovative
from the water-energy nexus, without tackling water and energy separately. We must prioritize low-carbon and efficient technologies that address both water and energy demands. Water and wastewater activities account for ~4% of global electricity consumption, and that figure is expected to double by 2040 (Mortenson Center in Global Engineering, 2024). Water management more broadly is responsible for around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (ibid.). This is mainly related to energy use for water treatment and transport, as well as emissions from wastewater decomposition, decomposition of organics in reservoirs, and destruction of wetlands. As natural freshwater resources are increasingly depleted, polluted, and impacted by climate change, this will likely lead to a greater reliance on energy-intensive sources of water supply such as desalination. In the Middle East, desalination’s share of
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THE FUTURE OF ENERGY
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