Sustainable Planning of the Energy-Water-Food Nexus // Using Decision Making Tools
Developing countries struggle to implement suitable electric power and water services, failing to match infrastructure with urban expansion. In this paper, a holistic methodology and platform to support the resilient and sustainable planning at city region level for multiple sectors was developed for applications in urban energy systems (UES) and the energy-water-food nexus. Via a scenario based approach, innovative water supply and energy deployment policies are presented, which address the provision of clean energy for every citizen and demonstrate the potential effects of climate change.
Abstract
Developing countries struggle to implement suitable electric power and water services, failing to match infrastructure with urban expansion. Integrated modelling of urban water and power systems would facilitate the investment and planning processes, but there is a crucial gap to be filled with regards to extending models to incorporate the food supply in developing contexts. In this paper, a holistic methodology and platform to support the resilient and sustainable planning at city region level for multiple sectors was developed for applications in urban energy systems (UES) and the energy-water-food nexus, combining agent-based modelling - to simulate and forecast resource demands on spatial and temporal scales - with resource network optimization, which incorporates capital expenditures, operational costs, environmental impacts and the opportunity cost of food production foregone (OPF). Via a scenario based approach, innovative water supply and energy deployment policies are presented, which address the provision of clean energy for every citizen and demonstrate the potential effects of climate change. The results highlighted the vulnerability of Ghana's power generation infrastructure and the need for diversification. Feed-in tariffs and investment into supporting infrastructure and agriculture intensification will effectively increase the share of renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.
Highlights
- A platform for realizing sustainable development goals is developed.
- Decision making support is provided in energy-water-food sectors and their nexus.
- It suggests investment and operation strategies for current and long-term evolution.
- A comprehensive case study of the Sub-Saharan African country Ghana is discussed.
- Regional and international policies and climate change impacts are evaluated.
Authors
- Niclas Bieber, Imperial College London, Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, UK
- Jen Ho Ker, Imperial College London, Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, UK
- Xiaonan Wang, Imperial College London, Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, UK; National University of Singapore, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Singapore
- Charalampos Triantafyllidis, University College London, London, Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, UK
- Koen H.van Dam, Imperial College London, Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, UK
- Rembrandt H.E.M.Koppelaar, Imperial College London, Centre for Environmental Policy, UK
- Nilay Shah, Imperial College London, Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, UK
Download
Published
December 2017
Published in
Energy Policy, Volume 113, February 2018, Pages 584-607