- The world’s energy systems are inextricably linked with water systems.
- With demand rising for both resources, water scarcity can threaten the long-term viability of energy projects and hinder development.
- To mitigate the risks of the challenge, the World Bank has launched Thirsty Energy, a global initiative to help countries prepare for an uncertain future now by quantifying tradeoffs and identifying synergies between water and energy resource management.
Energy and water security are crucial to human and economic development. The two resources are now more interconnected than ever -- significant amounts of water are needed in almost all energy generation processes, from generating hydropower, to cooling and other purposes in thermal power plants, to extracting and processing fuels. Conversely, the water sector needs energy – mainly in the form of electricity – to extract, treat and transport water. Both energy and water are used in the production of crops, including those used to generate energy through biofuels.
But energy and water resources are under unprecedented pressure, and there is growing competition for their use from people, industries, ecosystems, and growing economies. As the world’s population reaches 9 billion, demand will require a 50 percent increase in agricultural production and a 15 percent increase in already-strained water withdrawals. By 2035, the world’s energy consumption will increase by 35 percent, which in turn will increase water use by 15 percent and consumption by 85 percent, according to the International Energy Agency.
See full Press Release:
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2014/01/16/will-water-constrain-our-energy-future
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