Challenges at the Energy-Water-Food Nexus: The Case for Different Resource Management
Dr. Jacquie Ashmore Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Energy
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy Context: population
By the year 2100, the Earth’s population is expected to grow from its current level of 7.6 billion people to 11.2 billion people
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy Context: climate change
Business as usual scenarios project a 4.8oC increase in the mean global temperature
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy Context: agriculture
By 2050 global food production would need to increase by 50% to feed the more than 9 billion people projected to live on our planet
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy Context: water
Today 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water; this number is projected to increase rapidly
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy 12.6% of US national 52 billion cubic meters primary energy of fresh water is consumption in 2010 consumed annually for Energy-Water- was direct water-related global energy Food nexus: energy consumption. production. facts & figures ENERGY WATER
Food production & Agriculture supply chain accounts accounts for 70% for about 30% of total of global fresh global energy water withdrawal. consumption. This is primarily consumptive use, 10% of the reducing what is world’s energy available is bioenergy. downstream FOOD/
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy AGRICULTURE Integrated planning path interconnections
Conrad et al. (2017)
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy Integrated water management Emphasizes the interconnectedness of water to achieve sustainable and resilient water systems
• Key Aspects • Coordinated stakeholder management • Accounting for the true cost of water • Maintaining environmental flows
• Characteristics of the Water Utility of the Future • Reflects the true cost of water • Sustainable • Resilient • Integrated
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy Changing Our Approach
It is imperative that we limit the places and times in which our cumulative water demand for energy and for food production exceeds the available supply
Energy: make production less water-intensive • Hydropower and wind are notably low in water use; geothermal energy is another good long-term resource • Biofuels, fracking, and fossil fuel production are all water intensive
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy Changing Our Approach
Water: Use sustainability metrics to drive water resource management and ecosystem protection
Agriculture: Focus on water and energy efficiency measures (e.g. move to precision irrigation) • Manage the water used for biofuel production • Limit the increase in water-intensive meat/dairy based diets as people move away from starch-based diets
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy Closing Thoughts
Our energy future is inextricably intertwined with our water future and our food future.
• The water intensity of fossil fuel-based energy production and fracking, as well as of biofuel production, poses notable challenges • Food production must adapt to the reality of resource scarcity by maximizing the efficiency of energy and water resources • Rapidly growing cities represent a notable opportunity to develop different and more sustainable urban environments
Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy Energy-Water Nexus Transition to Address Climate Change
Gustaf Olsson, Professor Emeritus, Lund University Population Urbanization Life style
Energy Climate
Food Water
Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 All the SDGs are depending on Water Energy water and energy
Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 Energy Climate
Food Water
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Global warming Jan – Oct 2020 vs. 1981–2010 average
World: 1.2°C Sweden: 2.1 °C
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 If all countries would obey the Paris agreement we approach 3°C Paris 1.5°C Today 1.2°C We exceed 1.5°C already in 2035
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Texas February 2021
Extreme weather – too cold or too warm – will test the resilience of our power & water systems
Source: Wash Post Feb 16, 2021 Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 Weakening of the northern jet stream
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson NASA 2021 Energy Climate
Food Water
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Cape Town Dec. 2017 drought 2015-18 the worst in 100 years
The water reservoir Theewaterkloof Cape Town
Climate change made the drought > 3 times
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson Jan. 2014 Jan. 2018 2021 more probable Fire victim New South Wales 2020
Source: BBC Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 The largest and most destructive hurricanes are now 3 times more frequent compared to 100 years ago
North Atlantic – 30 hurricanes in 2020. on Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2 times 2021the long-term average. Mozambique cyclone Eloise Beira 24 Jan 2021
Indian Ocean dipole Source: BBC Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 80% of energy from Energy fossil Climate fuels
Food Water
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Annual el consumption (kWh/person/year)
900 25,000 800 700 20,000 600 15,000 500 400 10,000 300 200 5,000 100 0 0
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Gustaf Olsson Almost 50% Global caused by activities from about 10% of CO2 emissions the global population
”The poorest of the poor will pay the highest price.” IPCC 2007
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 Energy Climate
Food Water
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Grand Renaissance Dam - Ethiopia Africa's biggest hydroelectric power plant. Blue Nile - 85% of the Nile's water flow. The speed to fill up the reservoir will affect the flow downstream
Ethiopia: 6 years Egypt: 10-21 years
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Hydraulic fracturing
3000 m
15 – 20,000 m3 of water
About 750 chemicals listed as additives Athabasca oil sands Alberta, Canada
Carbon footprint Huge water H atoms/C atom footprint methane: 4H crude oil: Source: BBC 2H Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021tar sand oil: 1.5H Compensation: 40 billion USD Deepwater 3 Horizon 780 000 m ≈ 50,000 USD/m3
2010 Source: Cleveland 2013 Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Niger Delta destroyed by oil leakages
3 1.4 – 2.1 million m Sivibilagbara swamp during 50 years before the oil leaks
Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, Univ. of Port Harcourt
Compensation: 83 million USD ≈ 40 USD/m3 Garzweiler lignite coal mine Jüchen, Germany Acid mine drainage Coal + air + water Sulfuric acid
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Boron mining to get lithium Eti Mine Works, Eskisehir, Turkey
Li rich Toxic water pollution Bolivia: Li brine evaporation: 500 liters of water per 1 kg of Li - carbonate
Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 Carbon and water footprints El. power
Coal kg/kWh 2
CO Nat. gas
Hydro Wind Solar Nuclear
Water footprint m3/kWh
Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 Energy Climate
Food Water
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Water impact on energy
Hoover Dam & Lake Mead
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Lake Mead, Nevada/California 2021
46 m
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 USA – summer 2012 – cooling thermal power plants Shut down for > a week.
The water in Millstone nuclear Long Island Sound power plant too warm (24.8°C)
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Waterford,Gustaf Olsson Conn to cool it (max 23.8°C) 2021 The world now adds more renewable power capacity annually than it adds (net) capacity from all fossil fuels combined
How to take care of the
Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 solar waste? Small scale solar PV water supply
Solar powered Scalability • Pumping of electrial power • Biological water treatment • Drinking water treatment • Water reuse
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Irrigation 70% of total global withdrawals
Energy Climate
Food Water
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Producing 1 kcal of food 12 Liters of water 10.2 10
8 Animal products 6 Crops 4.2 4 3.6 3 2.3 2.1 1.8 2.1 2 1.3 1.2 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.7 0
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 Urgent need for more integrated approaches Energy Climate
Food Water
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021 The true challenges
Our lifestyle Our habits Our traditions
NOT technology
Gustaf Olsson Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb 2021 https://iwaponline.com/ebooks/book/738/ Clean-Water-Using-Solar-and-Wind-Outside-the-Power
Boston University ISE webinar 19 Feb Gustaf Olsson 2021