Global Energy Development and Climate-Induced Water Scarcity—Physical Limits, Sectoral Constraints, and Policy Imperatives
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods and Data
3. Results
3.1. Spatial and Temporal Trends in Energy Generation
3.2. Growth in Thermal Electrical Production
Country | Current Thermo & Nuclear Water Withdrawal/Industrial Water Withdrawal [%, Fraction], 2010 | Future Thermo & Nuclear Water Withdrawal/Industrial Water Withdrawal [%, Fraction], 2020 | Current Irrigation Withdrawals for Ethanol/Agricultural Water Withdrawals [%, Fraction], 2010 * | Current Thermo & Nuclear Water Consumption + Lifecycle Water (Ethanol & Biodiesel)/Total Internal Renewable Water [%, Fraction], 2010 ** | Future Thermo & Nuclear Water Consumption + Lifecycle Water (Ethanol & Biodiesel)/Total Internal Renewable Water [%, Fraction], 2020 ** |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 32.6% | 37.3% | 0.1% | 0.1% | |
Brazil | 2.8% | 6.2% | 0%–7.7% | 0.01%–0.3% | 0.02%–0.4% |
Canada | 2.7% | 2.8% | 0%–8.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
China | 10.0% | 28.4% | 0%–1.6% | 0.4% | 2.2% |
Egypt | 11.8% | 24.2% | 15.7% | 32.3% | |
India | 17.1% | 29.1% | 0%–0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Mexico | 10.7% | 14.8% | 0.1% | 0.2% | |
Pakistan | 15.7% | 22.4% | 0.2% | 0.4% | |
S. Korea | 57.4% | 101.4% | 1.7% | 3.8% | |
Saudi Arabia | 113.2% | 202.5% | 20.1% | 35.9% | |
South Africa | 120.4% | 148.9% | 0%–0.1% | 1.2% | n/a |
Thailand | 18.6% | 30.6% | 0%–4.7% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
Turkey | 12.9% | 21.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% | |
UK | 28.9% | 28.2% | 0.5% | 0.5% | |
USA | 6.3% | 6.8% | 0%–11% | 0.42%–0.8% | 0.6%–1.1% |
Venezuela | 21.6% | 40.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
[Value: ] | >10% | >10% | >10% | >10% | >10% |
[Value: ] | >30% | >30% | >30% | >30% | >30% |
3.3. Increasing Water Demands for Conventional Electricity Generation
3.4. Growth Trends in Water for Biofuel Production
Country | CO2 Emissions Increase [%/yr], 1999–2009 | Total Freshwater Withdrawals Increase [%/yr], 2002–2011 | Agricultural Freshwater Withdrawals Increase [%/yr], 2002–2011 | Industrial Freshwater Withdrawals Increase [%/yr], 2002–2011 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 2.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Brazil | 1.4% | –0.2% | –1.6% | –0.5% |
Canada | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
China | 8.8% | 0.6% | –1.4% | 3.7% |
Egypt | 5.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
India | 5.6% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 6.1% |
Mexico | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
Pakistan | 4.9% | 0.7% | 0.6% | –9.6% |
S. Korea | 2.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Saudi Arabia | 6.7% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 15.6% |
South Africa | 3.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Thailand | 3.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Turkey | 3.5% | –0.5% | –0.7% | 0.5% |
UK | –1.2% | –2.0% | –0.2% | –5.6% |
USA | –0.4% | 0.1% | –0.2% | 0.4% |
Venezuela | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
[Value: ] | >1% /yr | >1% /yr | >1% /yr | >1% /yr |
[Value: ] | >3% /yr | >3% /yr | >3% /yr | >3% /yr |
4. Discussion
4.1. Climate Adaptation in the Water and Energy Sectors
4.2. Relevance to Other Estimates of Intensity of Water Demand for Energy
4.3. Comparative Analysis of Flashpoint Countries
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Scott, C.A.; Sugg, Z.P. Global Energy Development and Climate-Induced Water Scarcity—Physical Limits, Sectoral Constraints, and Policy Imperatives. Energies 2015, 8, 8211-8225. https://doi.org/10.3390/en8088211
Scott CA, Sugg ZP. Global Energy Development and Climate-Induced Water Scarcity—Physical Limits, Sectoral Constraints, and Policy Imperatives. Energies. 2015; 8(8):8211-8225. https://doi.org/10.3390/en8088211
Chicago/Turabian StyleScott, Christopher A., and Zachary P. Sugg. 2015. "Global Energy Development and Climate-Induced Water Scarcity—Physical Limits, Sectoral Constraints, and Policy Imperatives" Energies 8, no. 8: 8211-8225. https://doi.org/10.3390/en8088211