Water-Energy Nexus // Water resources as important factor for the global energy system transition (Energiewende) at local and global scale (WANDEL)
Water and energy play a key role in the sustainable development of Germany and of the world. The overall focus of WANDEL project is to investigate, whether reduced water availability limits the use of conventional energy systems and thus can accelerate the energy transition, or if it may decelerate it instead. WANDEL follows a global approach with regional resolution: Not only hotspots of water availability along global energy supply chains shall be identified (e.g. specific process steps). There shall also be a spatial connection to identify regional hotspots of water availability (e.g. copper mining in Chile).
The Project
As energy and water are closely linked to each other the tranformation of the energy sector can cause conflicts or synergies between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for water (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation) and energy (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy). Direct and indirect, remote impacts of renewable and conventional energy systems on global water resources and related usage competitions may increase under the terms of climate change. Intensifying the cultivation of energy plants or expanding hydropower may contradict the aim of global food security or other social and ecological development goals. Recent studies on global availability of water of appropriate quality display a trend towards regional scarcity. In the course of reorientating the supply with energy it has to be examined regionally and globally whether the availability of water or potential impacts on water resources can be limiting factors. When it comes to the realisation of the SGDs 6 and 7 (water and energy) possible conflicting goals or synergies have to be assessed.
Work priorities
- Determination of direct and indirect, remote impacts of conventional (coal) and renewable energy systems (hydropower, biomass, solar thermal energy) on water resources
- Identification of potential conflicting goals and synergies of the Sustainable Development Goals "Clean Water and Sanitation" (SDG 6) and "Affordable and Clean Energy" (SDG 7)
- Development of technical solutions and governance instruments to reduce the impacts of energy production systems on a regional scale
- Development of new approaches and methodes to analyse impacts of the energy-water-nexus
Work packages and structure
The project is divided in five work packages:
- AP1 and AP2 determine the direct and indirect impacts of energy systems on water resources with the aid of four case studies. Additionally steering mechanisms to improve the efficiency of water consumption are developed.
- Results are used for global spatial analysis of water consumption in AP3.
- Local decision makers are provided with the results in AP4.
- The fifth AP includes the coordination of the project.
Project partner
- Center for Environmental Systems Research - University of Kassel
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management - University of Kassel
- Institute for Environmental Systems Research - University of Osnabrück
- KIMA Automation GmbH
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries at Research Association Berlin e.V. – Department of Ecosystem Research
- mundialis GmbH & Co. KG
- Society for water management, aquatic ecology & environmental planning (WAGU)
- United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security
- Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy gGmbh – Department Future Energy and Mobility Structures
Contact
Dr.-Ing. Martina Flörke
University Kassel
Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR)
T +49 561 804-6120
E floerke@usf.uni-kassel.de