Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology

Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies

Works Count: 40754

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Description

This cluster of papers explores the interconnectedness of water, energy, and food resources, with a focus on integrated modeling, sustainability, and the impact of climate change. It addresses the challenges and opportunities in managing these essential resources through an interdisciplinary approach, aiming to inform policy and decision-making for sustainable resource management.

Keywords

Nexus; Water; Energy; Food; Sustainability; Climate Change; Integrated Modeling; Resource Management; Policy; Interdisciplinary Approach

Sustainable development and the water–energy–food nexus: A perspective on livelihoods

2015-08-24

Eloise M. Biggs , Eleanor Bruce , Bryan Boruff +7 more

The water–energy–food nexus is being promoted as a conceptual tool for achieving sustainable development. Frameworks for implementing nexus thinking, however, have failed to explicitly or adequately incorporate sustainable livelihoods perspectives. … The water–energy–food nexus is being promoted as a conceptual tool for achieving sustainable development. Frameworks for implementing nexus thinking, however, have failed to explicitly or adequately incorporate sustainable livelihoods perspectives. This is counterintuitive given that livelihoods are key to achieving sustainable development. In this paper we present a critical review of nexus approaches and identify potential linkages with sustainable livelihoods theory and practice, to deepen our understanding of the interrelated dynamics between human populations and the natural environment. Building upon this review, we explore the concept of ‘environmental livelihood security’ – which encompasses a balance between natural resource supply and human demand on the environment to promote sustainability – and develop an integrated nexus-livelihoods framework for examining the environmental livelihood security of a system. The outcome is an integrated framework with the capacity to measure and monitor environmental livelihood security of whole systems by accounting for the water, energy and food requisites for livelihoods at multiple spatial scales and institutional levels. We anticipate this holistic approach will not only provide a significant contribution to achieving national and regional sustainable development targets, but will also be effective for promoting equity amongst individuals and communities in local and global development agendas.

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Desalination and Reuse of High-Salinity Shale Gas Produced Water: Drivers, Technologies, and Future Directions

2013-07-25

Devin L. Shaffer , Laura H. Arias Chavez , Moshe Ben‐Sasson +3 more

In the rapidly developing shale gas industry, managing produced water is a major challenge for maintaining the profitability of shale gas extraction while protecting public health and the environment. We … In the rapidly developing shale gas industry, managing produced water is a major challenge for maintaining the profitability of shale gas extraction while protecting public health and the environment. We review the current state of practice for produced water management across the United States and discuss the interrelated regulatory, infrastructure, and economic drivers for produced water reuse. Within this framework, we examine the Marcellus shale play, a region in the eastern United States where produced water is currently reused without desalination. In the Marcellus region, and in other shale plays worldwide with similar constraints, contraction of current reuse opportunities within the shale gas industry and growing restrictions on produced water disposal will provide strong incentives for produced water desalination for reuse outside the industry. The most challenging scenarios for the selection of desalination for reuse over other management strategies will be those involving high-salinity produced water, which must be desalinated with thermal separation processes. We explore desalination technologies for treatment of high-salinity shale gas produced water, and we critically review mechanical vapor compression (MVC), membrane distillation (MD), and forward osmosis (FO) as the technologies best suited for desalination of high-salinity produced water for reuse outside the shale gas industry. The advantages and challenges of applying MVC, MD, and FO technologies to produced water desalination are discussed, and directions for future research and development are identified. We find that desalination for reuse of produced water is technically feasible and can be economically relevant. However, because produced water management is primarily an economic decision, expanding desalination for reuse is dependent on process and material improvements to reduce capital and operating costs.

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Domestic and industrial water uses of the past 60 years as a mirror of socio-economic development: A global simulation study

2012-11-22

Martina Flörke , Ellen Kynast , Ilona Bärlund +3 more

Integrated analysis of climate change, land-use, energy and water strategies

2013-06-24

Mark Howells , Sebastian Hermann , Manuel Welsch +7 more

The nexus across water, energy, land and food (WELF): potential for improved resource use efficiency?

2013-11-21

Claudia Ringler , Anik Bhaduri , R. G. Lawford

Urban ecological footprints: Why cities cannot be sustainable—And why they are a key to sustainability

1996-07-01

William E. Rees , Mathis Wackernagel

Energy requirements for water production, treatment, end use, reclamation, and disposal

2012-06-27

Anand Plappally , John H. Lienhard

Water desalination cost literature: review and assessment

2008-01-28

Ioannis C. Karagiannis , Petros G. Soldatos

A revised approach to water footprinting to make transparent the impacts of consumption and production on global freshwater scarcity

2009-09-21

Bradley G. Ridoutt , Stephan Pfister

Global agriculture and nitrous oxide emissions

2012-05-09

David Reay , Eric A. Davidson , Keith A. Smith +4 more

Estimated use of water in the United States in 2005

2009-01-01

Joan F. Kenny , Nancy L. Barber , Susan S. Hutson +3 more

Estimates of water use in the United States indicate that about 410 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d) were withdrawn in 2005 for all categories summarized in this report. This total … Estimates of water use in the United States indicate that about 410 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d) were withdrawn in 2005 for all categories summarized in this report. This total is slightly less than the estimate for 2000, and about 5 percent less than total withdrawals in the peak year of 1980. Freshwater withdrawals in 2005 were 349 Bgal/d, or 85 percent of the total freshwater and saline-water withdrawals. Fresh groundwater withdrawals of 79.6 Bgal/day in 2005 were about 5 percent less than in 2000, and fresh surface-water withdrawals of 270 Bgal/day were about the same as in 2000. Withdrawals for thermoelectric-power generation and irrigation, the two largest uses of water, have stabilized or decreased since 1980. Withdrawals for public-supply and domestic uses have increased steadily since estimates began. Thermoelectric-power generation water withdrawals were an estimated 201 Bgal/d in 2005, about 3 percent more than in 2000. In 2005, thermoelectric freshwater withdrawals accounted for 41 percent of all freshwater withdrawals. Nearly all of the water withdrawn for thermoelectric power was surface water used for once-through cooling at power plants. Twenty-nine percent of thermoelectric-power withdrawals were saline water from oceans and brackish coastal water bodies. Withdrawals for irrigation in 2005 were 128 Bgal/d, about 8 percent less than in 2000 and approximately equal to estimates of irrigation water use in 1970. In 2005, irrigation withdrawals accounted for 37 percent of all freshwater withdrawals and 62 percent of all freshwater withdrawals excluding thermoelectric withdrawals. Irrigated acreage increased from 25 million acres in 1950 to 58 million acres in 1980, then remained fairly constant before increasing in 2000 and 2005 to more than 60 million acres. The number of acres irrigated using sprinkler and microirrigation systems has continued to increase and in 2005 accounted for 56 percent of the total irrigated acreage. Water withdrawals for public supply were 44.2 Bgal/d in 2005, which is 2 percent more than in 2000, although the population increased by more than 5 percent during that time. Public supply accounted for 13 percent of all freshwater withdrawals in 2005 and 21 percent of all freshwater withdrawals excluding thermoelectric withdrawals. The percentage of the U.S. population obtaining drinking water from public suppliers has increased steadily from 62 percent in 1950 to 86 percent in 2005. Most of the population providing their own household water obtained their supplies from groundwater sources. Self-supplied industrial water withdrawals continued to decline in 2005, as they have since their peak in 1970. Self-supplied industrial withdrawals were an estimated 18.2 Bgal/d in 2005, a 30-percent decrease from 1985. An estimated 4.02 Bgal/d were withdrawn for mining in 2005, which is 11 percent less than in 2000, and 18 percent less than in 1990. Withdrawals for mining were only 58 percent freshwater. Livestock water use was estimated to be 2.14 Bgal/d in 2005, which is the smallest estimate since 1975, possibly due to the use of standardized coefficients for estimation of animal water needs. Water use for aquaculture was an estimated 8.78 Bgal/d in 2005, nearly four times the amount estimated in 1985. Part of this increase is due to the inclusion of more facilities in the estimates in 2005, and the use of standardized coefficients for estimating aquaculture use from other data. Fresh surface water was the source for a majority of the public-supply, irrigation, aquaculture, thermoelectric, and industrial withdrawals. Nearly 30 percent of all fresh surface-water withdrawals in 2005 occurred in five States. In California, Idaho, and Colorado, most of the fresh surface-water withdrawals were for irrigation. In Texas and Illinois, most of the fresh surface-water withdrawals were for thermoelectric power generation. About 67 percent of fresh groundwater withdrawals in 2005 were for irrigation, and 18 percent were for public supply. More than half of fresh groundwater withdrawals in the United States in 2005 occurred in six States. In California, Texas, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Idaho, most of the fresh groundwater withdrawals were for irrigation. In Florida, 52 percent of all fresh groundwater withdrawals were for public supply, and 34 percent were for irrigation.

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Taking the “Waste” Out of “Wastewater” for Human Water Security and Ecosystem Sustainability

2012-08-09

Stanley B. Grant , Jean‐Daniel Saphores , David L. Feldman +7 more

Humans create vast quantities of wastewater through inefficiencies and poor management of water systems. The wasting of water poses sustainability challenges, depletes energy reserves, and undermines human water security and … Humans create vast quantities of wastewater through inefficiencies and poor management of water systems. The wasting of water poses sustainability challenges, depletes energy reserves, and undermines human water security and ecosystem health. Here we review emerging approaches for reusing wastewater and minimizing its generation. These complementary options make the most of scarce freshwater resources, serve the varying water needs of both developed and developing countries, and confer a variety of environmental benefits. Their widespread adoption will require changing how freshwater is sourced, used, managed, and priced.

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WATER IN A CHANGING WORLD

2001-08-01

Robert B. Jackson , Stephen R. Carpenter , Clifford N. Dahm +4 more

Renewable fresh water comprises a tiny fraction of the global water pool but is the foundation for life in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The benefits to humans of renewable fresh … Renewable fresh water comprises a tiny fraction of the global water pool but is the foundation for life in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The benefits to humans of renewable fresh water include water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial uses, for production of fish and waterfowl, and for such instream uses as recreation, transportation, and waste disposal. In the coming century, climate change and a growing imbalance among freshwater supply, consumption, and population will alter the water cycle dramatically. Many regions of the world are already limited by the amount and quality of available water. In the next 30 yr alone, accessible runoff is unlikely to increase more than 10%, but the earth's population is projected to rise by approximately one-third. Unless the efficiency of water use rises, this imbalance will reduce freshwater ecosystem services, increase the number of aquatic species facing extinction, and further fragment wetlands, rivers, deltas, and estuaries. Based on the scientific evidence currently available, we conclude that: (1) over half of accessible freshwater runoff globally is already appropriated for human use; (2) more than 1 × 109 people currently lack access to clean drinking water and almost 3 × 109 people lack basic sanitation services; (3) because the human population will grow faster than increases in the amount of accessible fresh water, per capita availability of fresh water will decrease in the coming century; (4) climate change will cause a general intensification of the earth's hydrological cycle in the next 100 yr, with generally increased precipitation, evapotranspiration, and occurrence of storms, and significant changes in biogeochemical processes influencing water quality; (5) at least 90% of total water discharge from U.S. rivers is strongly affected by channel fragmentation from dams, reservoirs, interbasin diversions, and irrigation; and (6) globally, 20% of freshwater fish species are threatened or extinct, and freshwater species make up 47% of all animals federally endangered in the United States. The growing demands on freshwater resources create an urgent need to link research with improved water management. Better monitoring, assessment, and forecasting of water resources will help to allocate water more efficiently among competing needs. Currently in the United States, at least six federal departments and 20 agencies share responsibilities for various aspects of the hydrologic cycle. Coordination by a single panel with members drawn from each department, or by a central agency, would acknowledge the diverse pressures on freshwater systems and could lead to the development of a well-coordinated national plan.

Future long-term changes in global water resources driven by socio-economic and climatic changes

2007-03-06

Joseph Alcamo , Martina Flörke , Michael Märker

Abstract A global water model is used to analyse the impacts of climate change and socio-economic driving forces (derived from the A2 and B2 scenarios of IPCC) on future global … Abstract A global water model is used to analyse the impacts of climate change and socio-economic driving forces (derived from the A2 and B2 scenarios of IPCC) on future global water stress. This work extends previous global water research by analysing not only the impact of climate change and population, but also the effects of income, electricity production, water-use efficiency and other driving forces, on water stress. Depending on the scenario and climate model, water stress increases (between current conditions and the 2050s) over 62.0–75.8% of total river basin area and decreases over 19.7–29.0% of this area. The remaining areas have small changes. The principal cause of decreasing water stress (where it occurs) is the greater availability of water due to increased annual precipitation related to climate change. The principal cause of increasing water stress is growing water withdrawals, and the most important factor for this increase is the growth of domestic water use stimulated by income growth. (Population growth was a much less important factor and irrigated area was assumed to remain constant.) To address the uncertainty of water stress estimates, three different indicators of water stress were computed and compared. The overlap area of their computation of “severe stress” in the 2050s was large (approximately 23 × 106 km2 or 56–73 % of the total “severe stress” area). This indicates a moderate level of agreement and robustness in estimates of future water stress. At the same time the indicators disagreed in many other areas, suggesting that work is still needed to elaborate general indicators and concepts of water stress.

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Considering the energy, water and food nexus: Towards an integrated modelling approach

2011-10-25

Morgan Bazilian , Holger Rogner , Mark Howells +7 more

Production of Electric Power by mixing Fresh and Salt Water in the Hydroelectric Pile

1954-10-01

R. E. Pattle

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Climate change and challenges of water and food security

2014-05-09

Anil Kumar Misra

Water and food security are the key challenges under climate change as both are highly vulnerable to continuously changing climatic patterns. Studies have predicted that the average global temperature may … Water and food security are the key challenges under climate change as both are highly vulnerable to continuously changing climatic patterns. Studies have predicted that the average global temperature may increase by 1.4–5.8 °C and there would be substantial reduction in fresh water resources and agricultural yield by the end of the 21st century. Approximately 75% of the Himalayan glaciers are on retreat and will disappear by 2035. Moreover in Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa) by 2050 the rainfall could drop by 10%, which would reduce drainage by 17%. Majority of the fresh water resources has already been depleted and there is reduction in agricultural production globally with escalation in population and food demand. Some of the prominent climate change impacts are, growing deserts, and increase in the magnitude of floods and droughts. An extreme decline in crop yields in arid and semi arid areas globally has caused food shortages and a manifold increase in food inflation. Countries of Africa, Middle East, Arab and Asia have close economic ties with natural resource and climate-dependent sectors such as forestry, agriculture, water, and fisheries. This manuscript highlights groundwater recharge by utilization of wastewater using the Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) method in irrigation and the significance and methods of artificial recharge of groundwater. This paper also presents easily and economically feasible options to ensure water and food security under climate change and recommend formation of effective adaptation and mitigation polices and strategies to minimizing the impact of climate change on water resources and irrigation.

Future water availability for global food production: The potential of green water for increasing resilience to global change

2009-02-13

Johan Rockström , Malin Falkenmark , Louise Karlberg +3 more

While past strategies for agricultural water management have focused on irrigation (use of blue water), this paper demonstrates the dominance of green water in food production. A global, yet spatially … While past strategies for agricultural water management have focused on irrigation (use of blue water), this paper demonstrates the dominance of green water in food production. A global, yet spatially disaggregated, green‐blue analysis of water availability and requirement, using the LPJmL dynamic vegetation and water balance model, indicates that many countries currently assessed as severely water short are able to produce enough food for their populations if green water is considered and is managed well. The need to integrate green and blue water management is highlighted in a future scenario of water availability under climate change and population growth (HadCM2 A2). For 2050, the scenario indicates that 59% of the world population will face blue water shortage, and 36% will face green and blue water shortage. Even under climate change, good options to build water resilience exist without further expansion of cropland, particularly through management of local green water resources that reduces risks for dry spells and agricultural droughts.

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The water footprint of humanity

2012-02-13

Arjen Y. Hoekstra , Mesfin M. Mekonnen

This study quantifies and maps the water footprint (WF) of humanity at a high spatial resolution. It reports on consumptive use of rainwater (green WF) and ground and surface water … This study quantifies and maps the water footprint (WF) of humanity at a high spatial resolution. It reports on consumptive use of rainwater (green WF) and ground and surface water (blue WF) and volumes of water polluted (gray WF). Water footprints are estimated per nation from both a production and consumption perspective. International virtual water flows are estimated based on trade in agricultural and industrial commodities. The global annual average WF in the period 1996-2005 was 9,087 Gm(3)/y (74% green, 11% blue, 15% gray). Agricultural production contributes 92%. About one-fifth of the global WF relates to production for export. The total volume of international virtual water flows related to trade in agricultural and industrial products was 2,320 Gm(3)/y (68% green, 13% blue, 19% gray). The WF of the global average consumer was 1,385 m(3)/y. The average consumer in the United States has a WF of 2,842 m(3)/y, whereas the average citizens in China and India have WFs of 1,071 and 1,089 m(3)/y, respectively. Consumption of cereal products gives the largest contribution to the WF of the average consumer (27%), followed by meat (22%) and milk products (7%). The volume and pattern of consumption and the WF per ton of product of the products consumed are the main factors determining the WF of a consumer. The study illustrates the global dimension of water consumption and pollution by showing that several countries heavily rely on foreign water resources and that many countries have significant impacts on water consumption and pollution elsewhere.

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Water Scarcity and Future Challenges for Food Production

2015-03-10

N. Mancosu , Richard L. Snyder , Gavriil Kyriakakis +1 more

Present water shortage is one of the primary world issues, and according to climate change projections, it will be more critical in the future. Since water availability and accessibility are … Present water shortage is one of the primary world issues, and according to climate change projections, it will be more critical in the future. Since water availability and accessibility are the most significant constraining factors for crop production, addressing this issue is indispensable for areas affected by water scarcity. Current and future issues related to “water scarcity” are reviewed in this paper so as to highlight the necessity of a more sustainable approach to water resource management. As a consequence of increasing water scarcity and drought, resulting from climate change, considerable water use for irrigation is expected to occur in the context of tough competition between agribusiness and other sectors of the economy. In addition, the estimated increment of the global population growth rate points out the inevitable increase of food demand in the future, with an immediate impact on farming water use. Since a noteworthy relationship exists between the water possessions of a country and the capacity for food production, assessing the irrigation needs is indispensable for water resource planning in order to meet food needs and avoid excessive water consumption.

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The nexus approach to water–energy–food security: an option for adaptation to climate change

2015-04-18

Golam Rasul , Bikash Sharma

Developing countries face a difficult challenge in meeting the growing demands for food, water, and energy, which is further compounded by climate change. Effective adaptation to change requires the efficient … Developing countries face a difficult challenge in meeting the growing demands for food, water, and energy, which is further compounded by climate change. Effective adaptation to change requires the efficient use of land, water, energy, and other vital resources, and coordinated efforts to minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies. However, as in many developing countries, the policy process in South Asia generally follows a sectoral approach that does not take into account the interconnections and interdependence among the three sectors. Although the concept of a water–energy–food nexus is gaining currency, and adaptation to climate change has become an urgent need, little effort has been made so far to understand the linkages between the nexus perspective and adaptation to climate change. Using the Hindu Kush Himalayan region as an example, this article seeks to increase understanding of the interlinkages in the water, energy, and food nexus, explains why it is important to consider this nexus in the context of adaptation responses, and argues that focusing on trade-offs and synergies using a nexus approach could facilitate greater climate change adaptation and help ensure food, water, and energy security by enhancing resource use efficiency and encouraging greater policy coherence. It concludes that a nexus-based adaption approach – which integrates a nexus perspective into climate change adaptation plans and an adaptation perspective into development plans – is crucial for effective adaptation. The article provides a conceptual framework for considering the nexus approach in relation to climate change adaptation, discusses the potential synergies, trade-offs, and offers a broader framework for making adaptation responses more effective.Policy relevanceThis article draws attention to the importance of the interlinkages in the water, energy, and food nexus, and the implications for sustainable development and adaptation. The potential synergies and complementarities among the sectors should be used to guide formulation of effective adaptation options. The issues highlight the need for a shift in policy approaches from a sectoral focus, which can result in competing and counterproductive actions, to an integrated approach with policy coherence among the sectors that uses knowledge of the interlinkages to maximize gain, optimize trade-offs, and avoid negative impacts.

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Sunlight Inactivation of Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Bacteriophages from Waste Stabilization Pond Effluent in Fresh and Saline Waters

2002-03-01

L. W. Sinton , Carollyn Hall , Philippa A. Lynch +1 more

ABSTRACT Sunlight inactivation in fresh (river) water of fecal coliforms, enterococci, Escherichia coli , somatic coliphages, and F-RNA phages from waste stabilization pond (WSP) effluent was compared. Ten experiments were … ABSTRACT Sunlight inactivation in fresh (river) water of fecal coliforms, enterococci, Escherichia coli , somatic coliphages, and F-RNA phages from waste stabilization pond (WSP) effluent was compared. Ten experiments were conducted outdoors in 300-liter chambers, held at 14°C (mean river water temperature). Sunlight inactivation ( k S ) rates, as a function of cumulative global solar radiation (insolation), were all more than 10 times higher than the corresponding dark inactivation ( k D ) rates in enclosed (control) chambers. The overall k S ranking (from greatest to least inactivation) was as follows: enterococci > fecal coliforms ≥ E. coli > somatic coliphages > F-RNA phages. In winter, fecal coliform and enterococci inactivation rates were similar but, in summer, enterococci were inactivated far more rapidly. In four experiments that included freshwater-raw sewage mixtures, enterococci survived longer than fecal coliforms (a pattern opposite to that observed with the WSP effluent), but there was little difference in phage inactivation between effluents. In two experiments which included simulated estuarine water and seawater, sunlight inactivation of all of the indicators increased with increasing salinity. Inactivation rates in freshwater, as seen under different optical filters, decreased with the increase in the spectral cutoff (50% light transmission) wavelength. The enterococci and F-RNA phages were inactivated by a wide range of wavelengths, suggesting photooxidative damage. Inactivation of fecal coliforms and somatic coliphages was mainly by shorter (UV-B) wavelengths, a result consistent with photobiological damage. Fecal coliform repair mechanisms appear to be activated in WSPs, and the surviving cells exhibit greater sunlight resistance in natural waters than those from raw sewage. In contrast, enterococci appear to suffer photooxidative damage in WSPs, rendering them susceptible to further photooxidative damage after discharge. This suggests that they are unsuitable as indicators of WSP effluent discharges to natural waters. Although somatic coliphages are more sunlight resistant than the other indicators in seawater, F-RNA phages are the most resistant in freshwater, where they may thus better represent enteric virus survival.

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Water for Agriculture: Maintaining Food Security under Growing Scarcity

2009-10-15

Mark W. Rosegrant , Claudia Ringler , Tingju Zhu

Irrigated agriculture is the main source of water withdrawals, accounting for around 70% of all the world's freshwater withdrawals. The development of irrigated agriculture has boosted agricultural yields and contributed … Irrigated agriculture is the main source of water withdrawals, accounting for around 70% of all the world's freshwater withdrawals. The development of irrigated agriculture has boosted agricultural yields and contributed to price stability, making it possible to feed the world's growing population. Rapidly increasing nonagricultural demands for water, changing food preferences, global climate change, and new demands for biofuel production place increasing pressure on scarce water resources. Challenges of growing water scarcity for agriculture are heightened by the increasing costs of developing new water, soil degradation, groundwater depletion, increasing water pollution, the degradation of water-related ecosystems, and wasteful use of already developed water supplies. This article discusses the role of water for agriculture and food security, the challenges facing irrigated agriculture, and the range of policies, institutions, and investments needed to secure adequate access to water for food today and in the future.

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Operational water consumption and withdrawal factors for electricity generating technologies: a review of existing literature

2012-12-01

Jordan Macknick , R. L. Newmark , Garvin Heath +1 more

This report provides estimates of operational water withdrawal and water consumption factors for electricity generating technologies in the United States. Estimates of water factors were collected from published primary literature … This report provides estimates of operational water withdrawal and water consumption factors for electricity generating technologies in the United States. Estimates of water factors were collected from published primary literature and were not modified except for unit conversions. The water factors presented may be useful in modeling and policy analyses where reliable power plant level data are not available. Major findings of the report include: water withdrawal and consumption factors vary greatly across and within fuel technologies, and water factors show greater agreement when organized according to cooling technologies as opposed to fuel technologies; a transition to a less carbon-intensive electricity sector could result in either an increase or a decrease in water use, depending on the choice of technologies and cooling systems employed; concentrating solar power technologies and coal facilities with carbon capture and sequestration capabilities have the highest water consumption values when using a recirculating cooling system; and non-thermal renewables, such as photovoltaics and wind, have the lowest water consumption factors. Improved power plant data and further studies into the water requirements of energy technologies in different climatic regions would facilitate greater resolution in analyses of water impacts of future energy and economic scenarios. This report provides the foundation for conducting water use impact assessments of the power sector while also identifying gaps in data that could guide future research.

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Evolution of the global virtual water trade network

2012-04-02

Carole Dalin , Megan Konar , Naota Hanasaki +2 more

Global freshwater resources are under increasing pressure from economic development, population growth, and climate change. The international trade of water-intensive products (e.g., agricultural commodities) or virtual water trade has been … Global freshwater resources are under increasing pressure from economic development, population growth, and climate change. The international trade of water-intensive products (e.g., agricultural commodities) or virtual water trade has been suggested as a way to save water globally. We focus on the virtual water trade network associated with international food trade built with annual trade data and annual modeled virtual water content. The evolution of this network from 1986 to 2007 is analyzed and linked to trade policies, socioeconomic circumstances, and agricultural efficiency. We find that the number of trade connections and the volume of water associated with global food trade more than doubled in 22 years. Despite this growth, constant organizational features were observed in the network. However, both regional and national virtual water trade patterns significantly changed. Indeed, Asia increased its virtual water imports by more than 170%, switching from North America to South America as its main partner, whereas North America oriented to a growing intraregional trade. A dramatic rise in China's virtual water imports is associated with its increased soy imports after a domestic policy shift in 2000. Significantly, this shift has led the global soy market to save water on a global scale, but it also relies on expanding soy production in Brazil, which contributes to deforestation in the Amazon. We find that the international food trade has led to enhanced savings in global water resources over time, indicating its growing efficiency in terms of global water use.

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Tourism and water use: Supply, demand, and security. An international review

2011-05-28

Stefan Gössling , Paul Peeters , C. Michael Hall +4 more

Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change

2010-06-17

Munir A. Hanjra , Muhammad Ejaz Qureshi

Sustainable intensification in agricultural systems

2014-10-28

Jules Pretty , Zareen Pervez Bharucha

Agricultural systems are amended ecosystems with a variety of properties. Modern agroecosystems have tended towards high through-flow systems, with energy supplied by fossil fuels directed out of the system (either … Agricultural systems are amended ecosystems with a variety of properties. Modern agroecosystems have tended towards high through-flow systems, with energy supplied by fossil fuels directed out of the system (either deliberately for harvests or accidentally through side effects). In the coming decades, resource constraints over water, soil, biodiversity and land will affect agricultural systems. Sustainable agroecosystems are those tending to have a positive impact on natural, social and human capital, while unsustainable systems feed back to deplete these assets, leaving fewer for the future. Sustainable intensification (SI) is defined as a process or system where agricultural yields are increased without adverse environmental impact and without the conversion of additional non-agricultural land. The concept does not articulate or privilege any particular vision or method of agricultural production. Rather, it emphasizes ends rather than means, and does not pre-determine technologies, species mix or particular design components. The combination of the terms 'sustainable' and 'intensification' is an attempt to indicate that desirable outcomes around both more food and improved environmental goods and services could be achieved by a variety of means. Nonetheless, it remains controversial to some. This review analyses recent evidence of the impacts of SI in both developing and industrialized countries, and demonstrates that both yield and natural capital dividends can occur. The review begins with analysis of the emergence of combined agricultural–environmental systems, the environmental and social outcomes of recent agricultural revolutions, and analyses the challenges for food production this century as populations grow and consumption patterns change. Emergent criticisms are highlighted, and the positive impacts of SI on food outputs and renewable capital assets detailed. It concludes with observations on policies and incentives necessary for the wider adoption of SI, and indicates how SI could both promote transitions towards greener economies as well as benefit from progress in other sectors.

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The water footprint of bioenergy

2009-06-04

P.W. Gerbens-Leenes , Arjen Y. Hoekstra , Theo H. van der Meer

All energy scenarios show a shift toward an increased percentage of renewable energy sources, including biomass. This study gives an overview of water footprints (WFs) of bioenergy from 12 crops … All energy scenarios show a shift toward an increased percentage of renewable energy sources, including biomass. This study gives an overview of water footprints (WFs) of bioenergy from 12 crops that currently contribute the most to global agricultural production: barley, cassava, maize, potato, rapeseed, rice, rye, sorghum, soybean, sugar beet, sugar cane, and wheat. In addition, this study includes jatropha, a suitable energy crop. Since climate and production circumstances differ among regions, calculations have been performed by country. The WF of bioelectricity is smaller than that of biofuels because it is more efficient to use total biomass (e.g., for electricity or heat) than a fraction of the crop (its sugar, starch, or oil content) for biofuel. The WF of bioethanol appears to be smaller than that of biodiesel. For electricity, sugar beet, maize, and sugar cane are the most favorable crops [50 m(3)/gigajoule (GJ)]. Rapeseed and jatropha, typical energy crops, are disadvantageous (400 m(3)/GJ). For ethanol, sugar beet, and potato (60 and 100 m(3)/GJ) are the most advantageous, followed by sugar cane (110 m(3)/GJ); sorghum (400 m(3)/GJ) is the most unfavorable. For biodiesel, soybean and rapeseed show to be the most favorable WF (400 m(3)/GJ); jatropha has an adverse WF (600 m(3)/GJ). When expressed per L, the WF ranges from 1,400 to 20,000 L of water per L of biofuel. If a shift toward a greater contribution of bioenergy to energy supply takes place, the results of this study can be used to select the crops and countries that produce bioenergy in the most water-efficient way.

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Towards Integration at Last? The Sustainable Development Goals as a Network of Targets

2015-04-10

David Le Blanc

Abstract In 2014, United Nations member states proposed a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as reference goals for the international development … Abstract In 2014, United Nations member states proposed a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as reference goals for the international development community for the period 2015–2030. The proposed goals and targets can be seen as a network, in which links among goals exist through targets that refer to multiple goals. Using network analysis techniques, we show that some thematic areas covered by the SDGs are well connected with one another. Other parts of the network have weaker connections with the rest of the system. The SDGs as a whole are a more integrated system than the MDGs were, which may facilitate policy integration across sectors. However, many of the links among goals that have been documented in biophysical, economic and social dimensions are not explicitly reflected in the SDGs. Beyond the added visibility that the SDGs provide to links among thematic areas, attempts at policy integration across various areas will have to be based on studies of the biophysical, social and economic systems at appropriate scales. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

Water Resources: Agricultural and Environmental Issues

2004-01-01

David Pimentel , Bonnie Berger , David Filiberto +7 more

The increasing demands placed on the global water supply threaten biodiversity and the supply of water for food production and other vital human needs. Water shortages already exist in many … The increasing demands placed on the global water supply threaten biodiversity and the supply of water for food production and other vital human needs. Water shortages already exist in many regions, with more than one billion people without adequate drinking water. In addition, 90% of the infectious diseases in developing countries are transmitted from polluted water. Agriculture consumes about 70% of fresh water worldwide; for example, approximately 1000 liters (L) of water are required to produce 1 kilogram (kg) of cereal grain, and 43,000 L to produce 1 kg of beef. New water supplies are likely to result from conservation, recycling, and improved water-use efficiency rather than from large development projects.

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Power-generation system vulnerability and adaptation to changes in climate and water resources

2016-01-04

Michelle T. H. van Vliet , D. Wiberg , Sylvain Leduc +1 more

Macro‐scale water scarcity requires micro‐scale approaches

1989-11-01

Malin Falkenmark , Jan Lundqvist , Carl Gösta Widstrand

4 types of water scarcity exist. Aridity and intermittent droughts consist of the natural types while land desiccation and water stress are man-made types. Climatic aridity, intermittent droughts, land degradation, … 4 types of water scarcity exist. Aridity and intermittent droughts consist of the natural types while land desiccation and water stress are man-made types. Climatic aridity, intermittent droughts, land degradation, and population growth link to create growing critical water scarcity conditions. Specifically, in arid lands where only a limited growing season exists anyhow, increased and nonsustaining activities spurred on by population growth degrade soils resulting in interference with water recharge of the root zone. This combination precipitates intermittent droughts upsetting the water supply for plants and people. This occurs now in Africa to the degree that by 2025, 66% of people will experience severe water shortages. Policymakers in developing countries and bilateral and multilateral development agencies providing technical assistance need to understand these relationships. They must develop a new strategy which includes water resource assessments followed by upgraded water plans for optimal use of available water resources and by the creation of best land use criteria. Their challenge is to balance the acute needs of people with conserving the productivity of the resource base. Experience shows that maximizing agricultural production per unit of water instead of per unit of land can increase income and employment. For example, in India, a semiarid area produced, with a given amount of water, as much as 30 times the amount of crops if the crops had a low water demand (e.g., grapes and potatoes) rather than those with a high water demand (e.g., sugarcane). This microscale approach and other such approaches could help semiarid Africa. Yet decision makers must seriously consider the transferability of these approaches to the African cultural and geographical environment. More essential than that, however, is the very high levels of water stress caused by the rapid population growth in famine-prone African countries.

Climate Change and Water

2009-10-01

Carol Howe

Understand the effects of climate change on urban water and wastewater utilities with this collection of international scientific papers. Case studies and practical planning, mitigating and adapting information provided on … Understand the effects of climate change on urban water and wastewater utilities with this collection of international scientific papers. Case studies and practical planning, mitigating and adapting information provided on greenhouse gases, energy use, and water supply and quality issues.ISBN: 9781843393047 (Print)ISBN: 9781780401737 (eBook)

Photocatalytic purification and treatment of water and air

1994-02-01

B.K. Hodnett

Energy-water-environment nexus underpinning future desalination sustainability

2017-03-11

Muhammad Wakil Shahzad , Muhammad Burhan , Ang Li +1 more

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Groundwater depletion embedded in international food trade

2017-03-28

Carole Dalin , Yoshihide Wada , Thomas Kästner +1 more

The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A systematic review of methods for nexus assessment

2018-01-23

Tamee R. Albrecht , Arica Crootof , Christopher A. Scott

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is rapidly expanding in scholarly literature and policy settings as a novel way to address complex resource and development challenges. The nexus approach aims to identify … The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is rapidly expanding in scholarly literature and policy settings as a novel way to address complex resource and development challenges. The nexus approach aims to identify tradeoffs and synergies of water, energy, and food systems, internalize social and environmental impacts, and guide development of cross-sectoral policies. However, while the WEF nexus offers a promising conceptual approach, the use of WEF nexus methods to systematically evaluate water, energy, and food interlinkages or support development of socially and politically-relevant resource policies has been limited.

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The Global Food‐Energy‐Water Nexus

2018-04-20

Paolo D’Odorico , Kyle Frankel Davis , Lorenzo Rosa +7 more

Abstract Water availability is a major factor constraining humanity's ability to meet the future food and energy needs of a growing and increasingly affluent human population. Water plays an important … Abstract Water availability is a major factor constraining humanity's ability to meet the future food and energy needs of a growing and increasingly affluent human population. Water plays an important role in the production of energy, including renewable energy sources and the extraction of unconventional fossil fuels that are expected to become important players in future energy security. The emergent competition for water between the food and energy systems is increasingly recognized in the concept of the “food‐energy‐water nexus.” The nexus between food and water is made even more complex by the globalization of agriculture and rapid growth in food trade, which results in a massive virtual transfer of water among regions and plays an important role in the food and water security of some regions. This review explores multiple components of the food‐energy‐water nexus and highlights possible approaches that could be used to meet food and energy security with the limited renewable water resources of the planet. Despite clear tensions inherent in meeting the growing and changing demand for food and energy in the 21st century, the inherent linkages among food, water, and energy systems can offer an opportunity for synergistic strategies aimed at resilient food, water, and energy security, such as the circular economy.

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Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015

2018-01-01

Cheryl A. Dieter , Molly A. Maupin , Rodney R. Caldwell +5 more

First posted June 19, 2018 For additional information, contact: National Water Use Science Project Team U.S. Geological Survey 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192 https:water.usgs.gov/watuse/ Water use in the … First posted June 19, 2018 For additional information, contact: National Water Use Science Project Team U.S. Geological Survey 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192 https:water.usgs.gov/watuse/ Water use in the United States in 2015 was estimated to be about 322 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), which was 9 percent less than in 2010. The 2015 estimates put total withdrawals at the lowest level since before 1970, following the same overall trend of decreasing total withdrawals observed from 2005 to 2010. Freshwater withdrawals were 281 Bgal/d, or 87 percent of total withdrawals, and saline-water withdrawals were 41.0 Bgal/d, or 13 percent of total withdrawals. Fresh surface-water withdrawals (198 Bgal/d) were 14 percent less than in 2010, and fresh groundwater withdrawals (82.3 Bgal/day) were about 8 percent greater than in 2010. Saline surface-water withdrawals were 38.6 Bgal/d, or 14 percent less than in 2010. Total saline groundwater withdrawals in 2015 were 2.34 Bgal/d, mostly for mining use.Thermoelectric power and irrigation remained the two largest uses of water in 2015, and total withdrawals decreased for thermoelectric power but increased for irrigation. Withdrawals in 2015 for thermoelectric power were 18 percent less and withdrawals for irrigation were 2 percent greater than in 2010. Similarly, other uses showed reductions compared to 2010, specifically public supply (–7 percent), self-supplied domestic (–8 percent), self-supplied industrial (–9 percent), and aquaculture (–16 percent). In addition to irrigation (2 percent), mining (1 percent) reported larger withdrawals in 2015 than in 2010. Livestock withdrawals remained essentially the same in 2015 compared to 2010 (0 percent change). Thermoelectric power, irrigation, and public-supply withdrawals accounted for 90 percent of total withdrawals in 2015.Withdrawals for thermoelectric power were 133 Bgal/d in 2015 and represented the lowest levels since before 1970. Surface-water withdrawals accounted for more than 99 percent of total thermoelectric-power withdrawals, and 72 percent of those surface-water withdrawals were from freshwater sources. Saline surface-water withdrawals for thermoelectric power accounted for 97 percent of total saline surface-water withdrawals for all uses. Thermoelectric-power withdrawals accounted for 41 percent of total withdrawals for all uses, and freshwater withdrawals for thermoelectric power accounted for 34 percent of the total freshwater withdrawals for all uses. Total consumptive use for thermoelectric power was 4.31 Bgal/d in 2015 or 3 percent of the total thermoelectric-power withdrawals.Irrigation withdrawals were 118 Bgal/d in 2015, an increase of 2 percent from 2010 (116 Bgal/d), but were approximately equal to withdrawals estimated in the 1960s. Irrigation withdrawals, all freshwater, accounted for 42 percent of total freshwater withdrawals for all uses and 64 percent of total freshwater withdrawals for all uses excluding thermoelectric power. Surface-water withdrawals (60.9 Bgal/d) accounted for 52 percent of the total irrigation withdrawals, or about 8 percent less than in 2010. Groundwater withdrawals for irrigation were 57.2 Bgal/d in 2015, about 16 percent more than in 2010. About 63,500 thousand acres (or 63.5 million acres) were irrigated in 2015, an increase from 2010 of about 1,130 thousand acres (2 percent). The number of acres irrigated using sprinkler and microirrigation systems accounted for 63 percent of the total irrigated lands in 2015. Total consumptive use for irrigation was 73.2 Bgal/d in 2015 or 62 percent of the total use (withdrawals and reclaimed wastewater).Public-supply withdrawals in 2015 were 39.0 Bgal/d, or 7 percent less than in 2010, continuing the declines observed from 2005 to 2010. Total population in the United States increased from 312.6 million people in 2010 to 325.0 million people in 2015, an increase of 4 percent. Public-supply withdrawals accounted for 14 percent of the total freshwater withdrawals for all uses and 21 percent of freshwater withdrawals for all uses, excluding thermoelectric power. The number of people that received potable water from public-supply facilities in 2015 was 283 million, or about 87 percent of the total United States population. This percentage is 1 percent greater than in 2010. Self-supplied domestic withdrawals were 3.26 Bgal/d, or 8 percent less than in 2010. More than 98 percent of the self-supplied domestic withdrawals were from groundwater sources.Self-supplied industrial withdrawals were 14.8 Bgal/d in 2015, a 9 percent decline from 2010, continuing the downward trend since the peak of 47 Bgal/d in 1970. Total self-supplied industrial withdrawals were 5 percent of total withdrawals for all uses and 8 percent of total withdrawals for all uses, excluding thermoelectric power. Most of the total self-supplied industrial withdrawals were from surface-water sources (82 percent), and nearly all (94 percent) of those surface-water withdrawals were from freshwater sources. Nearly all of the groundwater withdrawals for self-supplied industrial use (98 percent) were from freshwater sources.Total aquaculture withdrawals were 7.55 Bgal/d in 2015, or 16 percent less than in 2010, and surface water was the primary source (79 percent). Most of the surface-water withdrawals occurred at facilities that operated flow-through raceways, which returned the water to the source directly after use. Aquaculture withdrawals accounted for 2 percent of the total withdrawals for all uses and 4 percent of the total withdrawals for all uses, excluding thermoelectric.Total mining withdrawals in 2015 were 4.00 Bgal/d, or about 1 percent of total withdrawals from all uses and 2 percent of total withdrawals from all uses, excluding thermoelectric. Mining withdrawals increased 1 percent from 2010 to 2015. Groundwater withdrawals accounted for 72 percent of the total mining withdrawals, and most of the groundwater was saline (65 percent). Most (77 percent) of the surface-water withdrawals for mining was freshwater.Livestock withdrawals in 2015 were 2.00 Bgal/d, the same as in 2010. All livestock withdrawals were from freshwater sources, mostly from groundwater (62 percent). Livestock withdrawals accounted for about 1 percent of total freshwater withdrawals for all uses, excluding thermoelectric power.In 2015, more than 50 percent of the total withdrawals in the United States were accounted for by 12 States (California, Texas, Idaho, Florida, Arkansas, New York, Illinois, Colorado, North Carolina, Michigan, Montana, and Nebraska). California accounted for almost 9 percent of the total withdrawals and 9 percent of freshwater withdrawals in the United States, predominantly for irrigation. Texas accounted for almost 7 percent of total withdrawals, predominantly for thermoelectric power, irrigation, and public supply. Florida accounted for 23 percent of the total saline-water withdrawals in the United States, mostly from surface-water sources for thermoelectric power. Texas and California accounted for 59 percent of the total saline groundwater withdrawals in the United States, mostly for mining.

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Nexus approaches to global sustainable development

2018-09-11

Jianguo Liu , Vanessa Hull , Hubert Charles +7 more

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Produced water characteristics, treatment and reuse: A review

2019-02-14

Mohammad A. Al‐Ghouti , Maryam A. Al-Kaabi , Mohammad Y. Ashfaq +1 more

Soil and the intensification of agriculture for global food security

2019-08-07

Peter M. Kopittke , Neal W. Menzies , Peng Wang +2 more

Soils are the most complex and diverse ecosystem in the world. In addition to providing humanity with 98.8% of its food, soils provide a broad range of other services, from … Soils are the most complex and diverse ecosystem in the world. In addition to providing humanity with 98.8% of its food, soils provide a broad range of other services, from carbon storage and greenhouse gas regulation, to flood mitigation and providing support for our sprawling cities. But soil is a finite resource, and rapid human population growth coupled with increasing consumption is placing unprecedented pressure on soils through the intensification of agricultural production - the increasing of crop yield per unit area of soil. Indeed, the human population has increased from ca. 250 million in the year 1000, to 6.1 billion in the year 2000, and is projected to reach 9.8 billion by the year 2050. The current intensification of agricultural practices is already resulting in the unsustainable degradation of soils. Major forms of this degradation include the loss of organic matter and the release of greenhouse gases, the over-application of fertilizers, erosion, contamination, acidification, salinization, and loss of genetic diversity. This ongoing soil degradation is decreasing the long-term ability of soils to provide humans with services, including future food production, and is causing environmental harm. It is imperative that the global society is not shortsighted by focusing solely on the near-immediate benefits of soils, such as food supply. A failure to identify the importance of soil within increasingly intensive agricultural systems will undoubtedly have serious consequences for humanity and represents a failure to consider intergenerational equity. Of utmost importance is the need to unequivocally recognize that the degradation of soils leads to a clear economic cost through the loss of services, with such principles needing to be explicitly considered in economic frameworks and decision-making processes at all levels of governance. We contend that the concept of the Water-Food-Energy nexus must be expanded, forming the Water-Soil-Food-Energy nexus.

Importance and vulnerability of the world’s water towers

2019-12-09

Walter W. Immerzeel , Arthur Lutz , Marcos Andrade +7 more

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Global agricultural economic water scarcity

2020-04-29

Lorenzo Rosa , Davide Danilo Chiarelli , Maria Cristina Rulli +2 more

We advance the notion of agricultural economic water scarcity to identify where irrigation expansion may increase food production. We advance the notion of agricultural economic water scarcity to identify where irrigation expansion may increase food production.

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Desalination Freshens Up

2006-08-24

Robert F. Service

Bioenergetics and Growth

1946-01-01

R. George Jaap

Geospatial and multi-criteria decision-making approach for optimal site selection of solar/wind desalination plants in Oman

2025-06-25

Fahd Amjad , Ephraim Bonah Agyekum , Aftab Ahmed Shaikh +3 more | Energy Reports

MONITORING OF WATER RESOURCES IN UZBEKISTAN AND PROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF ION-EXCHANGE PLANTS FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT

2025-06-24

Т. V. Drabkova , N. M. Abdutalipova , F. N. Rakhmatullaev +1 more | Geography and water resources

This study focuses on monitoring water resources in Uzbekistan, particularly those affected by industrial wastewater discharges. The results show that the concentrations of several harmful substances (ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺), nitrite … This study focuses on monitoring water resources in Uzbekistan, particularly those affected by industrial wastewater discharges. The results show that the concentrations of several harmful substances (ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺), nitrite nitrogen (NO₂⁻), phosphates (PO₄³⁻), iron (Fe), and water hardness) in rivers and canals exceed permissible standards, indicating serious environmental concerns. To address these issues, the authors propose the use of ion-exchange treatment systems at industrial facilities as an effective method for reducing the pollution of wastewater discharged into natural water bodies. The performance of an experimental unit designed for the treatment of wastewater with varying compositions is examined. The results confirm the feasibility and efficiency of this technology, highlighting the importance of implementing modern treatment solutions to mitigate environmental impacts and protect public health.

A hybrid approach to advanced NER techniques for AI-driven water and agricultural resource management

2025-06-24

Dong Yan , Ming Lei , Yingying Shi | Frontiers in Environmental Science

Introduction Named Entity Recognition (NER) plays a crucial role in extracting valuable insights from unstructured text in specialized domains like agriculture and water resource management. These fields face challenges such … Introduction Named Entity Recognition (NER) plays a crucial role in extracting valuable insights from unstructured text in specialized domains like agriculture and water resource management. These fields face challenges such as complex terminologies, heterogeneous data distributions, data scarcity, and the need for real-time processing, which hinder effective NER. In agriculture, for example, variations in crop names, irrigation methods, and environmental factors add additional complexity. The increasing availability of sensor data and climate-related information has led to more dynamic, time-sensitive text, requiring NER systems to continuously adapt. Methods This paper introduces a hybrid NER approach combining ontology-guided attention with deep learning. It includes two core components: the Adaptive Representation Neural Framework (ARNF) for multiscale semantic feature encoding, and the Adaptive Task Optimization Strategy (ATOS), which dynamically balances learning priorities to enhance multitask performance in heterogeneous and resource-constrained environments. Results Experimental results on several benchmark datasets demonstrate that our method significantly outperforms state-of-the-art models. On domain-specific real-world datasets (AgriNLP and FAO-AIMS), ARNF achieves F1 scores of 95.54% and 96.75%, respectively. Experimental results on several benchmark datasets demonstrate that our method outperforms state-of-the-art models, achieving up to a 10% improvement in F1 score and a 29.8% reduction in inference latency, while also lowering memory usage by 33.4%, highlighting both its accuracy and efficiency. Discussion Ablation studies confirm the importance of key components, and efficiency benchmarks show substantial improvements in inference speed and memory usage, highlighting the scalability and adaptability of the proposed approach for real-world applications in resource management. By achieving high accuracy and scalability, our method enables timely and reliable extraction of critical information from agronomic reports and policy documents-supporting applications such as precision irrigation planning, early detection of crop diseases, and efficient allocation of water resources in data-scarce regions.

Environmental Engineering Science: Taking on Today’s Environmental Grand Challenges

2025-06-24

Catherine A. Peters | Environmental Engineering Science

Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus Performance and Regional Inequality Toward Low-Carbon Transition in China

2025-06-24

Qi Yao , Cao Hai-lin , Ruilian Zhang | Land

The transition to a low-carbon economy in China necessitates an integrated understanding of the interdependencies within the water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus. This study evaluates the performance of the WELF nexus across … The transition to a low-carbon economy in China necessitates an integrated understanding of the interdependencies within the water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus. This study evaluates the performance of the WELF nexus across Chinese provinces and examines regional disparities that may hinder or facilitate sustainable development goals. Using a multi-dimensional performance index and spatial econometric analysis, we identified key synergies and trade-offs among resource systems under low-carbon policy scenarios. The results revealed significant regional inequalities in nexus efficiency, with economically developed regions exhibiting higher integration and resource optimization, while less-developed areas face persistent structural challenges. These disparities underscore the need for regionally tailored policy interventions that address localized constraints while promoting cohesive national strategies. Our findings provide critical insights for policymakers aiming to align resource management with China’s climate commitments and sustainable development agenda.

Hydropower Reservoir Greenhouse Gas Emissions: State of the Science and Roadmap for Further Research to Improve Emission Accounting and Mitigation

2025-06-24

Surabhi Karambelkar , Maryalice Fischer , Shannon Ames | Sustainability

Rapidly decarbonizing the electricity grid is crucial for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by mid-century and mitigating climate change impacts. Hydropower facilities can directly support grid decarbonization; however, like … Rapidly decarbonizing the electricity grid is crucial for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by mid-century and mitigating climate change impacts. Hydropower facilities can directly support grid decarbonization; however, like all energy systems, they emit GHGs throughout their lifecycle, with reservoirs being an important source. Further research is urgently needed to improve the accounting and mitigation of hydropower reservoir GHG emissions to ensure that this technology is accurately considered in decarbonization policies and to allow project owners and energy buyers to make credible emission claims regarding this energy source. To this end, this paper reviews over seven dozen studies and emerging research to synthesize the current state of the science on reservoir GHG emission pathways as well as advancements in emission measurement tools to identify areas where further research is needed. This paper presents a research roadmap for government agencies, research institutions, and funding organizations covering four action areas: understanding and reducing uncertainties in reservoir GHG estimation and associated publicly accessible estimation tools; reducing the technical and economic barriers for reservoir managers to use GHG estimation tools; setting common standards to enable consistent monitoring, allocation, and reporting of reservoir GHG emissions; and supporting work on reservoir GHG emission mitigation strategies, including watershed-scale strategies. Progress in these areas will enable robust accounting of hydropower reservoir GHG emissions and targeted mitigation efforts to advance grid decarbonization.

Projection of Climate Impact on Discharge and Energy Production of Cascade Hydroelectric Power Plant in North Sulawesi

2025-06-24

Guntur Ibnu Haq , Joni Hermana | Applied Research in Science and Technology

Background: Climate change is a major challenge for the sustainability of hydropower plants (PLTA) in tropical areas such as North Sulawesi, which are highly dependent on water availability from seasonal … Background: Climate change is a major challenge for the sustainability of hydropower plants (PLTA) in tropical areas such as North Sulawesi, which are highly dependent on water availability from seasonal rainfall.Aims & Methods: This study aims to project the water discharge and electricity production of the Tonsealama, Tanggari I, and Tanggari II hydropower plants based on the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 climate change scenarios. Historical climate data (2014–2024) from BMKG and hydropower plant operation data (2019–2024) are used to train the prediction model using the Random Forest algorithm, with bias correction performed on the CMIP6 GCM output through a hybrid approach combining Random Forest and Delta Change.Result: The results show a consistent decrease in discharge and energy at the three hydropower plants, especially in May, which has been the peak of the rainy season. The average annual discharge decrease reached 9%, while the decrease in electricity was recorded at 5,528.77 MWh (SSP2-4.5) and 3,053.42 MWh (SSP5-8.5) for the Tonsealama hydropower plant; 8,085.37 MWh and 12,625.98 MWh for PLTA Tanggari I; and the highest decline was experienced by PLTA Tanggari II of 18,160.42 MWh and 9,255.40 MWh. Although higher warming occurs in the SSP5-8.5 scenario, occasional extreme rainfall events partially offset the decline in energy production. These findings emphasize the importance of adaptation strategies through more flexible reservoir management, turbine operations, and integrated water resource planning to increase system resilience to future climate uncertainty.

Global overlooked multidimensional water scarcity

2025-06-23

Wenfeng Liu , Zhonghao Fu , Michelle T. H. van Vliet +7 more | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Freshwater resources are fundamental to supporting humanity, and measures of water scarcity have been critical for identifying where water requirements and water availability are imbalanced. Existing water scarcity metrics typically … Freshwater resources are fundamental to supporting humanity, and measures of water scarcity have been critical for identifying where water requirements and water availability are imbalanced. Existing water scarcity metrics typically account for blue water withdrawals (i.e., from surface-/groundwater), while the contribution of green water (i.e., soil moisture) and water quality-dimensions with important implications for multiple societal sectors-to water scarcity remains unclear. Here, we introduce the concept of multidimensional water scarcity that explicitly assesses all three of these dimensions of water scarcity and evaluates their individual and combined effects. We find that 22 to 26% of the global land area and 58 to 64% of the global population are exposed to some form of water scarcity annually, with multidimensional (i.e., blue, green, and quality) water scarcity particularly high in India, China, and Pakistan. Examining seasonal water scarcity, we estimate that 5.9 billion people (or 80% of the world's population in 2015) were exposed to at least one dimension of water scarcity for at least 1 mo per year and that 1-in-10 people (10%) were exposed to multidimensional water scarcity at least 1 mo per year. Our findings demonstrate that the challenges of water scarcity are far more widespread than previously understood. As such, our assessment provides a more holistic view of global water scarcity issues and points to overlooked scarcity where action needs to bring human pressure on freshwater resources into balance with water quantity and quality.

Wastewater matters: incorporating wastewater treatment and reuse into a process-based hydrological model (CWatM v1.08)

2025-06-23

Dor Fridman , Mikhail Smilovic , Peter Burek +2 more | Geoscientific model development

Abstract. Wastewater treatment and reuse are becoming increasingly critical for enhancing water use efficiency and ensuring reliable water availability. Wastewater also significantly influences hydrological dynamics within urban watersheds. Although hydrological … Abstract. Wastewater treatment and reuse are becoming increasingly critical for enhancing water use efficiency and ensuring reliable water availability. Wastewater also significantly influences hydrological dynamics within urban watersheds. Although hydrological modeling has advanced to incorporate human–water interactions, large-scale and multi-resolution models often lack the comprehensive integration of wastewater treatment and reuse processes. This paper presents the new wastewater treatment and reuse module as part of the hydrological Community Water Model (CWatM) and demonstrates its capabilities and advantages in an urban watershed with intermittent flows. Incorporating wastewater into the model improves model performance by better representing low and peak flows during the respective dry and wet seasons. It allows for the representation of sectoral wastewater reuse, the exploration of different measures to increase wastewater reuse, and the examination of the effects of wastewater reuse on the water stress level. Modeling wastewater treatment and reuse is particularly relevant in regions with semi-arid or arid climates, rapid urbanization, or active policies promoting water reuse. The wastewater treatment and reuse module could be upscaled by minimizing the data requirements via simplified workflows. Combined with the availability of recent datasets on wastewater treatment plants and processes, a global application of the module is feasible. As current developments focus on water quantity, the water quality dimension of wastewater treatment remains a limitation. This opens prospects for incorporating water quality into the model and developing global input data for wastewater treatment and reuse.

Optimizing the Food–Energy–Water Nexus: A Multi-Objective Spatial Configuration Framework for High-Density Communities

2025-06-23

Jie Zheng , Hengyu Li , Lulu Sun +2 more | Buildings

Global urbanization and climate change are intensifying challenges in the sustainable management of the Food–Energy–Water (FEW) system. This study introduces a multi-objective optimization framework that redefines urban spaces through a … Global urbanization and climate change are intensifying challenges in the sustainable management of the Food–Energy–Water (FEW) system. This study introduces a multi-objective optimization framework that redefines urban spaces through a dual rooftop-ground hierarchy, interlinkage nodes for mapping material and energy flows, and the application of NSGA-II optimization to balance food production, energy output, and costs. The framework was applied to a case study area, generating non-dominated solutions with diverse resource-cost configurations. The findings revealed that optimal scenarios could meet 40.6% of local energy demands and exceed 102.9% of local grain demands, while maintaining economic viability. This approach bridges resource systems theory and spatial planning practice, providing economically viable pathways for high-density cities to transform into hybrid production-consumption spaces, effectively addressing the dual pressures of urbanization and climate change.

Managing South Asia’s nitrogen cycle by restoring soil health and adopting conservation agriculture

2025-06-23

Rattan Lal | Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

Research on Annual Power Balance and Short-term Optimal Scheduling Considering Abandoned Water Power

2025-06-22

Yuanrui Hong | Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment

With the rapid growth of my country’s new energy installed capacity, the phenomenon of water abandonment, wind abandonment, and light abandonment in the power system has gradually intensified. Especially in … With the rapid growth of my country’s new energy installed capacity, the phenomenon of water abandonment, wind abandonment, and light abandonment in the power system has gradually intensified. Especially in areas rich in hydropower resources, the problem of water abandonment is particularly prominent. In order to effectively solve the problem of abandoned water and improve the utilization rate of hydropower, this paper studies the annual power balance and short-term optimal scheduling problem considering abandoned water. Firstly, this paper analyzes the current situation of water abandonment in power system at home and abroad and its impact on power grid operation, combined with the actual operation data of a hydropower station in China, constructs an annual power balance model, and adopts multi-objective optimization method to coordinate and optimize the power balance and water abandonment. The research shows that considering the abandoned hydropower, the waste of hydropower resources can be effectively reduced by reasonable power balance, and the regulation ability and power supply reliability of the power grid can be improved. This paper also combines the optimization algorithm of short-term dispatching to simulate and analyze the dispatching strategy under different load demands and water conditions. The results show that the optimized dispatching strategy can reduce the amount.

Adapt water reserves to climate change: study case Romania

2025-06-20

Gabriela Elena Dumitran , Liana Ioana Vuţă | Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Abstract At the regional level, hydrological factors, catchment properties, as well as the way water reserves are utilized, represent major determining factors of the reactions of lake ecosystems to climate … Abstract At the regional level, hydrological factors, catchment properties, as well as the way water reserves are utilized, represent major determining factors of the reactions of lake ecosystems to climate change (CC). In this context, lakes also have a negative impact related to the large amounts of water they can consume through evaporation. This paper quantifies the effects of a small artificial lake—Dridu from Romania (with complex usage) on the environment in the context of CC, estimating the blue water footprint (WF) and carbon footprint (CF) under different use scenarios. Thus, an analysis of the evolution of CF and WF is conducted until 2100, considering forecasts of changes in average temperatures, as well as a partial coverage of the lake’s surface with floating photovoltaic systems (FPV). During the study period from 2017 to 2021, the average WF was 0.054 million m 3 , and the carbon intensity was 120.23 kg CO 2 e/MWh. By covering 2 ha of the reservoir’s surface with FPV, the production and release of CO₂ and CH₄ into the atmosphere decrease, on average, by 30% for WF and 28.13% for CF. For the CC scenarios, it is observed that WF will increase by an average of 10.4%, while the carbon footprint shows no significant variations. It is worth mentioning that this type of approach, e.g., impact of FPV on WF and CF, as well as the use of FPV as a measure of coping with CC, has not been studied yet in any region of Eastern Europe. This study, given that it deals with relatively new technologies (FPV), has some gaps, since the CF is computed based on estimates, not on measured data. However, the results and the methodology currently presented can be used by various stakeholders to identify the best coping mechanism for preserving the water quantity and for generating clean energy. Also, these types of studies can be a good stimulus for the authorities to develop and permit the placement of FPV on small reservoirs and to investigate the effects of such projects in terms of energy, FPV efficiency, water quantity, and quality, as it will allow the actual quantification of different effects and benefits brought by this technology (water quality indicators, GHG emission, reduction of evaporation, FPV energy output).

Status of wastewater treatment and reuse in Saudi Arabia and its forecasting for the year 2035

2025-06-20

Mubarak Faisal Alhajri , Rehan Jamil , Eltahir Mohamed Elhadi Abdalla +3 more | Applied Water Science

Abstract Water scarcity poses a significant challenge in Saudi Arabia, exacerbated by its arid climate and limited freshwater resources. In response to this, wastewater treatment and reuse have emerged as … Abstract Water scarcity poses a significant challenge in Saudi Arabia, exacerbated by its arid climate and limited freshwater resources. In response to this, wastewater treatment and reuse have emerged as critical strategies for achieving sustainable water management. This study offers an in-depth analysis of the current state of wastewater treatment and reuse in Saudi Arabia, focusing on existing infrastructure, treatment technologies, and reuse practices across various sectors, including agriculture, industry, and municipal applications. To predict the future potential of wastewater treatment and reuse, the study employs advanced statistical techniques and regression models, projecting the situation in 2035. The results indicate a substantial increase of 43.6% in both treated wastewater production and its reuse by 2035. To ensure the robustness of these forecasts, the study employs ANOVA, normal distribution and sensitivity analysis, which confirm the reliability of the proposed model and its ability to provide accurate predictions. The findings of this research suggest that wastewater reuse could play a vital role in alleviating the Kingdom’s water scarcity challenges and improving overall water security. However, for this potential to be fully realized, challenges related to infrastructure development, public acceptance, and the creation of supportive policy frameworks must be addressed. This study highlights the importance of integrating wastewater reuse into long-term water resource planning to meet future demands. It offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, providing actionable recommendations to guide the sustainable management of water resources in Saudi Arabia by 2035.

Are farmers willing to adopt climate-smart Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus designs? A case of olive producers in Crete using a participatory choice experiment

2025-06-20

Olha Halytsia , Maria Vrachioli , Nektarios N. Kourgialas +1 more | Environmental Impact Assessment Review

Advanced AI-enabled technologies for sustainable biohydrogen production and environmental stewardship

2025-06-19

Muthukumar Paramasivan , Thanikanti Sudhakar Babu , G. Flora +3 more | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

A novel approach to resource management within the water-electricity-climate nexus perspective

2025-06-19

Çiğdem Coşkun Dilcan , Merih Aydınalp Köksal | The Science of The Total Environment

A typology of water-energy-food nexus research

2025-06-19

J. Leah Jones | Environmental Science & Policy

Assessing University Students’ Perceptions of Environmental Issues in the Mediterranean Region: Enhancing Higher Education in Circular Bioeconomy

2025-06-19

M. Pachés , D. Aguado , Anna Laura Eusebi +2 more | Circular Economy and Sustainability

Abstract Awareness of circular bioeconomy and sustainability must be increased among young people, as they are the future drivers of change towards greater resource efficiency and waste reduction. This study … Abstract Awareness of circular bioeconomy and sustainability must be increased among young people, as they are the future drivers of change towards greater resource efficiency and waste reduction. This study evaluates the current awareness and perceptions of students in the Mediterranean region regarding environmental issues, including climate change, water resources and scarcity, wastewater treatment and reuse, microalgae-based wastewater treatment, and bioproducts derived from microalgae. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to Italian and Spanish students, representing the Mediterranean region. External factors such as age, field of study, degree level, and gender were analysed. Findings revealed that participants demonstrated a high level of awareness regarding climate change and responsible consumption. However, responses from students regarding droughts and water resource quality were highly variable. The study also revealed that a large number of participants were willing to use reclaimed water, provided it did not come into direct contact with crops. However, their understanding of specific aspects of water reuse, such as alternative treatments and water quality levels, was limited. Furthermore, while participants generally demonstrated a high level of acceptance regarding the use of microalgae, a significant knowledge gap was identified concerning their potential for bioproduct production and their application in alternative wastewater treatment processes. To address these knowledge gaps, several recommendations are provided, covering both academic and non-academic pathways. The results of this research can be used to review and update scientific content in curricula, as well as guide water management stakeholders in determining the directions to be pursued in the near future.

Combining Hydrodynamic Modelling and Solar Potential Assessment to Evaluate the Effects of FPV Systems on Mihăilești Reservoir, Romania

2025-06-19

Gabriela Elena Dumitran , Elena Catalina Preda , Liana Ioana Vuţă +2 more | Hydrology

Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems are a new green technology emerging lately, having the indisputable advantage of not covering agricultural land but instead the surface of lakes or reservoirs. Being a … Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems are a new green technology emerging lately, having the indisputable advantage of not covering agricultural land but instead the surface of lakes or reservoirs. Being a new technology, even though the number of studies is significant, reliable results remain limited. This paper presents the possible influence of an FPV farm installed on the surface of a reservoir in Romania in four scenarios of the surface being covered with photovoltaic panels. The changes in the water mass under the FPV panels were determined using mathematical modelling as a tool. For this purpose, a water quality model was implemented for Mihăilești Reservoir, Romania, and the variations in the temperature, the phytoplankton biomass, and the total phosphorus and nitrogen were computed. Also, by installing FPV panels, it was estimated that a volume of water of between 1.75 and 7.43 million m3/year can be saved, and the greenhouse gas emission reduction associated with the proposed solutions will vary between 15,415 and 66,066 tCO2e/year; these results are in agreement with those reported in other scientifical studies. The overall conclusion is that the effect of an FPV farm on the reservoir’s surface is beneficial for the water quality in the reservoir.

Delivering equity in low-carbon multisector infrastructure planning

2025-06-19

Adil Ashraf , Mohammed Basheer , José María Faci González +7 more | Nature Communications

Estudio preliminar para el cambio en la fórmula de la cuota energética en México.

2025-06-19

Juan Villarreal , Diana Marisol Arredondo Pastrana , César Martín Cantú Ayala +2 more | Agricultura Sociedad y Desarrollo

Se investigó el impacto de la tarifa eléctrica agrícola, conocida como Cuota Energética, en la extracción de agua subterránea en los municipios de Linares y Hualahuises, ubicados en Nuevo León, … Se investigó el impacto de la tarifa eléctrica agrícola, conocida como Cuota Energética, en la extracción de agua subterránea en los municipios de Linares y Hualahuises, ubicados en Nuevo León, México. El objetivo de este estudio, fue evaluar el aprovechamiento de agua asociado a la cuota energética en casos extremos de consumo energético, comparar la energía proporcionada por la cuota energética, con los requerimientos energéticos de los productores en el área de estudio y proponer una metodología, para establecer un límite basado en los volúmenes de agua autorizados. Se registraron los consumos energéticos de 195 servicios beneficiados, con la tarifa de estímulo en la región y se compararon, mediante una prueba no paramétrica, con el límite máximo de energía establecido por la Cuota Energética. Se seleccionaron tres huertos sujetos a la Cuota Energética, escogidos por alto consumo energético anual y facilidad de acceso. En estos huertos, se verificaron los medidores volumétricos y se registraron los consumos anuales de agua. Se encontró un consumo excesivo de 13.047 hm3 (hectómetros cúbicos), equivalente al 1,123% del volumen concesionado y a 17.4% de la recarga anual del acuífero en la región citrícola sur. Se observó que la cuota energética, permite un consumo significativamente superior al consumo energético actual, lo que indica que no se está limitando eficazmente la extracción excesiva de agua. Se analiza, de forma exploratoria, establecer un límite en la fórmula actual, basado en volúmenes de agua concesionados, volúmenes extraídos y consumos energéticos observados.

Energy Recovery from Desalination Processes

2025-06-18

Wafa Suwaileh , Saima Farooq , Farah Ahmed +1 more | CRC Press eBooks

Towards equitable, integrated, and adaptive water-energy-food nexus research in Africa: A systematic literature review

2025-06-18

Bastien Richelle , Feng Mao , Ulf Liebe | Environmental Impact Assessment Review

Hydro Energy

2025-06-18

Carlo Villante , Sonia Dell'Aversano , Stefano Ranieri | CRC Press eBooks

Water-energy-carbon coupling relationships and barrier analysis: an empirical study based on China

2025-06-18

Jinhua Liu , Peipei Pan | Frontiers in Earth Science

Introduction Exploring the synergistic development of water resources, energy, and carbon dioxide (CO₂)—the WEC nexus—is essential for promoting regional sustainable development. Methods Using an obstacle degree model, this study identifies … Introduction Exploring the synergistic development of water resources, energy, and carbon dioxide (CO₂)—the WEC nexus—is essential for promoting regional sustainable development. Methods Using an obstacle degree model, this study identifies key barriers affecting the WEC nexus in China and predicts the future trend of its coupling coordination degree. Results The findings reveal: (1) From 2008 to 2022, the integrated development level of the WEC nexus in China exhibited a fluctuating upward trend, led by the carbon system and hindered by the energy system. (2) The coupling coordination degree improved from 0.47 in 2008 to 0.53 in 2022, shifting from near imbalance to marginal coordination. Spatially, the southeast outperformed the northwest, and the overall pattern displayed inertial dependence. (3) The main obstacle factors remained relatively stable over time. Specifically, water development was limited by per capita water resources and groundwater proportion; energy by per capita energy production and self-sufficiency; and carbon by investment in environmental governance and green space availability. (4) Projections for 2026–2035 indicate continued improvement in coupling coordination, although enhanced integration policies in water management, energy transition, and carbon reduction are required. Discussion This study contributes actionable insights for policy-making and supports ecological-economic synergies through spatial and obstacle-based analysis.

Energy and Life Cycle Assessment of Potato Production under Groundwater and Surface Water Irrigation Systems in Egypt: A Pathway to Sustainable Agriculture

2025-06-17

Mahmoud A. Abdelhamid , Shaimaa M. Baraka , Khaled Abdeen Mousa Ali +2 more | Potato Research

Overcoming Challenges in Water Loss Management

2025-06-16

Randy Lusk | Opflow

Water is a precious resource, and effective management is crucial for utilities of all sizes. However, small water systems often face unique challenges when controlling water loss. Water is a precious resource, and effective management is crucial for utilities of all sizes. However, small water systems often face unique challenges when controlling water loss.

Remote River Energy System: Field trial experiments in a tidal estuary

2025-06-16

Ian Masters , Ali Esmaeili , Iestyn Evans +7 more | Applied Ocean Research

Quantifying ecosystem-human water trade-offs: A clean water scarcity perspective

2025-06-16

Shanlin Tong , Jie Chen , Rui Xia +3 more | Journal of Hydrology Regional Studies

Power system impacts of potential environmental constraints for hydropower in Norway

2025-06-16

Anders Arvesen , Lennart Schönfelder , Ingeborg Graabak +3 more | Environmental Research Letters

Abstract New environmental constraints for hydropower improve ecosystems but reduce energy production and flexibility, creating a dilemma between protecting nature and ensuring a sufficient and reliable energy supply. Approximately 88% … Abstract New environmental constraints for hydropower improve ecosystems but reduce energy production and flexibility, creating a dilemma between protecting nature and ensuring a sufficient and reliable energy supply. Approximately 88% of Norway’s power comes from hydropower, produced by over 1770 plants. We assess how 285 potential new or revised environmental constraints affect hydropower production and flexibility in the Northern European power system. To do so, we combine a method for estimating environmental flow releases in bypass reaches and stochastic power system optimization. Our results show that reductions in hydropower output due to these constraints are consistent across power system scenarios and two power system models. The reductions amount to 3 TWh yr-1 (2% of Norway’s production), by our estimates. These reductions are primarily driven by flow diversions to bypass river sections. Further, we find that high power prices increase and low prices decrease, reflecting reduced system flexibility. Price increases typically occur in dry spring periods and are linked to activation of season-dependent reservoir restrictions in that period, while price decreases result from higher reservoir volumes entering periods of rain-heavy summer or autumn periods, indirectly linked to restrictions active earlier in the year. In our simulations, we observe that flexibility losses due to environmental constraints to some degree are offset by increased flexible operation of unaffected reservoirs and transmission interconnectors. Finally, our findings suggest that reservoir restrictions may cause spilling, as higher water levels in regulated reservoirs increase the risk of spilling during wet summer or autumn periods. This system-level understanding is crucial for regulatory authorities designing new environmental requirements and revising the terms of hydropower licenses. Our study contributes to informed discussions for balancing hydropower production with local environmental benefits and offers a framework for studying similar constraints in other regions, such as Sweden, North America and the Alpine region.

Contribution of floating photovoltaic systems in hydropower plants for the expansion of Brazilian electricity sector

2025-06-16

Danielle Rodrigues Raimundo , Carla Kazue Nakao Cavaliero , Marcelo Pereira da Cunha | Renewable Energy

Smart water management in agroecosystems: innovations and challenges in a changing climate- A review

2025-06-14

S Gourav , K. Vaiyapuri , Selvakumar Selvaraj +2 more | Plant Science Today

Over the decade, rapid climatic changes threaten agroecosystem stability and food security. The rapid transition from natural vegetation to agricultural land results to alteration of surface energy balance. Numerous interactions … Over the decade, rapid climatic changes threaten agroecosystem stability and food security. The rapid transition from natural vegetation to agricultural land results to alteration of surface energy balance. Numerous interactions occur within the agroecosystem among its diverse components. Properly understanding these interactions helps mitigate environmental impact through modern climate-smart technologies and sustainable crop water management based on unique needs. Smart water management paves the pathway, particularly in water crises phase through the use of numerous contemporary artificial intelligences, machine learning tools, agrometeorological models and Internet of Things based modern watering devices aid in the efficient use of resources both on and off farm to improve agricultural output and quality. The study's objective is reviewing core technologies including advanced sensors, internet of things, remote sensing and agrometeorological models. The highlights of this study to investigate SWM systems. A comparative analysis of existing technologies identifies challenges such as high cost, data privacy concerns and policy gap. To address these gaps, this study proposes an integrated approach that combines artificial intelligence, remote sensing and IoT framework as most effective approach, enabling real time monitoring, precise irrigation scheduling and adaptive response to climate variability. Advancing these technologies with suitable, cost effective solutions, and policy interventions is crucial for ensuring climate resilient, increasing the efficiency of the smart management system and sustainable agricultural water management.

Smart municipal wastewater treatment sludge management: Enhancement of biogas production from anaerobic digestion amended by optimized sludge-derived biochar

2025-06-14

Rahman Zeynali , Mohsen Asadi , Phillip Ankley +5 more | The Science of The Total Environment

Feasibility Study of Seawater Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Plant for Sri Lanka

2025-06-13

K. L. K. S. Indunil , K. A. C. Udayakumar , H. H. D. Nalin +1 more | Engineer Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka

Methods of peak shaving are required for the countries where the daily load curve is dominated by the domestic loads. Using energy storage devices is often the solution for levelling … Methods of peak shaving are required for the countries where the daily load curve is dominated by the domestic loads. Using energy storage devices is often the solution for levelling the daily load curve. Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Plants are widely used in most of the countries for the peak leveling purposes. This study proposes to construct a seawater pump hydro energy storage plant for the Sri Lankan power system. The study identifies Trincomalee as the one of suitable locations for the Seawater Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Plant. The data of the Sri Lankan Survey Department and Google Earth data of the locations have been used for the collection of details of the location. The volume of the upper reservoir was calculated within the study and found to be 868,750 m3. Detailed calculations were carried out to determine the net head for both generating and pumping modes and presented. The results of the calculations show that the suitable time duration of the plant in generation mode is 3.5 hours and the operation of the plant in pumping mode is 5.64 hours. This research study concludes that it is feasible to construct a 49 MW Seawater Pumped Hydro Energy Storage plant in Trincomalee.

Sustainable Crop Irrigation with Renewable Energy: A Case Study of Lethbridge County, Alberta

2025-06-12

Mohammad Adnan Aftab , James Byrne , Paul Hazendonk +2 more | Energies

The agriculture sector is a major contributor to the economy of Alberta, Canada, accounting for almost 2.8% of the total GDP. Considering its importance, implementing efficient and cost-effective irrigation systems … The agriculture sector is a major contributor to the economy of Alberta, Canada, accounting for almost 2.8% of the total GDP. Considering its importance, implementing efficient and cost-effective irrigation systems is vital for promoting sustainable agriculture in semi-arid regions like Lethbridge County, Alberta, Canada. Although irrigation is primarily carried out using the Oldman River and its allied reservoirs, groundwater pumping becomes a supplementary necessity during periods of limited surface water availability or droughts. This research investigates the potential of renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar energy, to meet the energy requirements for crop irrigation. The study begins by identifying and calculating the water requirements for major crops in Lethbridge County, such as wheat and barley, using the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s CROPWAT 8.0 software. Subsequently, energy calculations were conducted to meet the specific crop water demand through the design of a hybrid energy system using Homer Pro 3.16.2. A technoeconomic analysis of the renewable hybrid system has been carried out to demonstrate the efficiency and novelty of the proposed work. Outcomes revealed that the proposed system is both efficient and economical in fulfilling the crop water requirement through groundwater pumping, promoting sustainable agriculture, and helping to ensure food security in the region.

Ecosystem Services for Indigenous Community Well-Being at Kaptai Lake in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh

2025-06-12

Md. Anowar Hossain Bhuiyan , Md. Abud Darda | Journal of Resources and Ecology

Assessment of Run-of-River and Hydropower Plants in Peru: Current and Potential Sites, Historical Variability (1981–2020), and Climate Change Projections (2035–2100)

2025-06-12

Leonardo Flavio Gutierrez Lope , Adrian Huerta , Harold Llauca +2 more | Climate

Hydropower is the main source of renewable energy and the most feasible for implementation in remote areas without access to conventional energy grids. Therefore, knowledge of actual, potential, and future … Hydropower is the main source of renewable energy and the most feasible for implementation in remote areas without access to conventional energy grids. Therefore, knowledge of actual, potential, and future perspectives of sustainable hydropower projects is decisive for their viability. This study aims to estimate the present and future potential capacity of Peru’s hydropower system and from the potential small hydroelectric plants, specifically Run-of-River class. First, we employed geospatial databases and hydroclimatological products to describe the current hydropower system and potential sites for Run-of-River projects. The findings identified 11,965 potential sites for Run-of-River plants. Second, we executed and validated a hydrological model to estimate historical daily streamflows (1981–2020) and hydropower parameters for actual and potential sites. It was determined there is an installed capacity of 5.2 GW in the current hydropower system and a total potential capacity of 29.1 GW for Run-of-River plants, mainly distributed in the northern and central Andes. Finally, we evaluated future changes driven by ten global climate models under three emission scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5), compared with the baseline period of 1981–2010 with two future time slices. The main results about capacity indicated that operational hydroelectric plants (Run-of-River plants) are projected to decrease by 0.5 to −5.4% (−7.2 to −2.2%) during 2036–2065 and by −9.2 to 3.8% (1.8 to −11.9%) during 2071–2100. These outcomes provide relevant information to support policymakers in addressing sustainable development gaps in the coming decades and stakeholders involved in the implementation and mitigation of climate change impacts on hydropower projects in Peru.

Optimizing Hydropower Resources for Maximum Power Generation Efficiency in Environmentally Sustainable Electrical Energy Production

2025-06-12

Bevl Naidu , Krishna Babu Sambaru , Guru Prasad Pasumarthi +3 more | Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences

Water power is one of the key renewable energy resources, whose efficiency is often hampered due to inefficient water flow management, turbine performance, and environmental variations. Most existing optimization techniques … Water power is one of the key renewable energy resources, whose efficiency is often hampered due to inefficient water flow management, turbine performance, and environmental variations. Most existing optimization techniques lack the real-time adaptability to sufficiently allocate resources in terms of location and time. Hence, a novel Scalable Tasmanian Devil Optimization (STDO) algorithm is introduced to optimize hydropower generation for maximum power efficiency. Using the STDO to model important system characteristics including water flow, turbine changes, and energy conversion efficiency is part of the process. In the final analysis, optimizing these settings in would help reduce inefficiencies and maximize power generation output. Following that, simulations based on actual hydroelectric data are used to analyze the algorithm's effectiveness. The simulation results provide evidence that the STDO algorithm can enhance hydropower plant efficiency tremendously translating to considerable energy output augmentation compared to conventional optimization methods. STDO achieves the reliability (92.5), resiliency (74.3), and reduced vulnerability (9.3). To guarantee increased efficiency towards ecologically friendly power generation, the STDO algorithm may thus offer efficient resource optimization for hydropower. A clear route is made available for expanding the efficiency of current hydropower facilities while tackling the long-term objectives of reducing the environmental impact and increasing the energy output of energy produced from renewable sources.

Evaluating Sustainability of Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems Nexus in Water-Scarce Regions via Coupled Simulation Model

2025-06-12

Huanyu Chang , Yong Zhao , Yongqiang Cao +6 more | Agriculture

Complex feedback mechanisms and interdependencies exist among the water–energy–food–ecosystems (WEFE) nexus. In water-scarce regions, fluctuations in the supply or demand of any single subsystem can destabilize the others, with water … Complex feedback mechanisms and interdependencies exist among the water–energy–food–ecosystems (WEFE) nexus. In water-scarce regions, fluctuations in the supply or demand of any single subsystem can destabilize the others, with water shortages intensifying conflicts among food production, energy consumption, and ecological sustainability. Balancing the synergies and trade-offs within the WEFE system is therefore essential for achieving sustainable development. This study adopts the natural–social water cycle as the core process and develops a coupled simulation model of the WEFE (CSM-WEFE) system, integrating food production, ecological water replenishment, and energy consumption associated with water supply and use. Based on three performance indices—reliability, coupling coordination degree, and equilibrium—a coordinated sustainable development index (CSD) is constructed to quantify the performance of WEFE system under different scenarios. An integrated evaluation framework combining the CSM-WEFE and the CSD index is then proposed to assess the sustainability of WEFE systems. The framework is applied to the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, a representative water-scarce area in China. Results reveal that the current balance between water supply and socio-economic demand in the BTH region relies heavily on excessive groundwater extraction and the appropriation of ecological water resources. Pursuing food security goals further exacerbates groundwater overexploitation and ecological degradation, thereby undermining system coordination. In contrast, limiting groundwater use improves ecological conditions but increases regional water scarcity and reduces food self-sufficiency. Even with the full operation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (Middle Route), the region still experiences a 16.4% water shortage. By integrating the CSM-WEFE model with the CSD evaluation approach, the proposed framework not only provides a robust tool for assessing WEFE system sustainability but also offers practical guidance for alleviating water shortages, enhancing food security, and improving ecological health in water-scarce regions.

Assessing climate change impacts on water footprint of crop production and crop yield: a case study of the Wu River basin, Taiwan

2025-06-11

Guan-Zhou Lin , Li-Chi Chiang | Ecological Indicators

Medium to Long-term Optimization Model and Scheduling Strategy for Cascade Hydropower Plants under High Penetration of Variable Renewable Energy

2025-06-11

Peng Wang , Zhiqiang Jiang , Yichao Xu +4 more | Renewable Energy