|
Water Shortages Slow Energy Production Worldwide
New Thirsty Energy initiative to help countries mitigate impact of water scarcity on energy security
ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan 21, 2014 - (ACN Newswire) - The World Bank is launching a new initiative at the World Future Energy Summit and International Water Summit in Abu Dhabi that will help developing countries better plan and manage scaling-up energy capacity to meet rising demand, in tandem with water resource management.
Producing energy requires a lot of water. Yet, the availability of and access to water is negatively impacting energy production around the world.
Last year alone, water shortages shut down thermal power plants in India, decreased energy production in power plants in the United States and threatened hydropower generation in many countries, including Sri Lanka, China and Brazil.
The problem is expected only to get worse. By 2035, the world's energy consumption will increase by 35 percent, which in turn will increase water consumption by 85 percent, according to the International Energy Agency.
"The world's energy and water are inextricably linked. With demand rising for both resources and increasing challenges from climate change, water scarcity can threaten the long-term viability of energy projects and hinder development," said Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change.
Part of the challenge for the energy sector is the competing demand for water. This demand will grow as the world's population reaches 9 billion, requiring a 50 percent increase in agricultural production and a 15 percent increase in already-strained water withdrawals. With two-thirds of the world's population - or 5 billion people - urbanized by 2030, cities in developing countries will be under tremendous pressure to meet the demand for food, energy, and water services. Yet today, some 780 million people lack access to improved water and 2.5 billion, more than one-third of the world's people, do not have basic sanitation.
Thirsty Energy is a global initiative aimed to help governments prepare for an uncertain future by:
-- identifying synergies and quantifying tradeoffs between energy development plans and water use
-- piloting cross-sectoral planning to ensure sustainability of energy and water investments
-- designing assessment tools and management frameworks to help governments coordinate decision-making
With the energy sector as an entry point, initial work has already started in South Africa and dialogue has been initiated in Bangladesh, Morocco, and Brazil where the challenges have already manifested and thus where demand exists for integrated approaches.
Failing to anticipate water constraints in energy investments can increase risks and costs for energy projects. In fact, the majority of energy and utility companies consider water a substantive risk and report water-related business impacts.
The issue is too large for any partner or sector to tackle alone.
"Water constraints on the energy sector can be overcome, but all stakeholders, public and private, must work together to develop innovative tools and use water as a guiding factor for assessing viability of projects," said Maria van der Hoeven, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. "The absence of integrated planning is unsustainable."
Solutions exist, but countries must continue to innovate and adapt policies and technology to address the complexity of the landscape. These solutions include technological development and adoption, improved operations to reduce water use and impacts in water quality, and strong integrated planning.
"We cannot meet our global energy goals of extending access to the poor, increasing efficiency and expanding renewables without water. The water energy interrelationship is critical to build resilient as well as efficient, clean energy systems. The time to act is now," said Kyte.
Related links -
Water Shortages Slow Energy Production Worldwide: http://bit.ly/1jqTv1Q
Infographic: Thirsty Energy - Energy and Water's Interdependence: http://bit.ly/1fP6QDh
Contact:strategic communication for development - pr audit
Soren Bauer
Phone: +43 664 530 7334
Skype: soren.bauer
Source: World Future Energy Summit (WFES)
Sectors: Water, Environment, ESG, Alternative Energy
Copyright ©2025 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network. |
Latest Release
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Achieves Highest-Ever Order Intake, Revenue, Net Income, and Free Cash Flow in FY2024, Increases Dividends, and Releases FY2025 Guidance
May 09, 2025 18:57 JST
| 
Valuufy Selected by Global Tech Leader for Environmental Impact Assessment
May 09, 2025 18:00 JST
| 
Mazda Adopts North American Charging Standard for BEVs launched in Japan
May 09, 2025 16:03 JST
| 
Mitsubishi Motors to Launch an All-New BEV Based on Nissan's Next-Generation LEAF in North America in the Second Half of 2026
May 08, 2025 11:25 JST
|
Mitsubishi Motors and Foxtron Sign MOU for OEM Supply of EV
May 08, 2025 11:08 JST
| 
Everest Medicines Announces NMPA Full Approval of NEFECON, Broadening Treatment Access for IgA Nephropathy Patients in China
May 07, 2025 19:06 JST
| 
Anime Tokyo Station: Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- Special Exhibition
May 03, 2025 03:00 JST
| 
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Set for Spa spectacle
May 02, 2025 19:29 JST
| 
FWD Group reports exceptionally strong first quarter new business update
May 02, 2025 17:00 JST
|
Toyota Mobility Foundation, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, UN-Habitat, Asian Institute of Technology and Toyota Motor Thailand Sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Launch the TRUST Project for Road Safety in Thailand
May 01, 2025 17:48 JST
| 
Katalon Officially Launches TrueTest(TM) - The First AI-Native Testing System That Thinks Like a Tester and Learns from Users
Apr 30, 2025 17:20 JST
| 
Eisai Representative Corporate Officer and CEO Haruo Naito Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star
Apr 30, 2025 14:17 JST
|
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Holds Christening and Launch Ceremony of Large Car Ferry KEYAKI in Shimonoseki
Apr 29, 2025 17:24 JST
| 
NEC DGDF Headquarters relocates to Zurich to accelerate growth and enhance management globally
Apr 28, 2025 16:03 JST
|
NEC achieves Japan's longest terrestrial wireless optical communication over 10 km
Apr 25, 2025 17:50 JST
| 
Olympus Appoints New CEO
Apr 25, 2025 15:30 JST
| 
DENSO Announces Year-End Financial Results
Apr 25, 2025 12:17 JST
|
DENSO and DELPHY Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Develop Data-Driven Smart Horticulture
Apr 24, 2025 18:43 JST
| 
MyJCB App Wins "iF DESIGN AWARD 2025"
Apr 24, 2025 17:00 JST
| 
Fujitsu launches new company 1FINITY to strengthen network products business
Apr 24, 2025 16:24 JST
|
More Latest Release >>
|