Integrated Energy–Water Nexus: Synergies Between Renewable Power and Water Treatment
A Special Issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717) belonging to the section "Energy Systems".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2027 | Viewed by 319
Editors
2. Pollution Diagnosis and Control Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Antioquia, 70th Street No. 52-21, Medellín 050010, Colombia
Interests: characterizing natural resources for their subsequent use as non-conventional sources of renewable energy; applying the response surface methodology for process optimization purposes; diagnosing the contamination of various environmental matrices, particularly water, and treating it by implementing alternative processes to those conventionally used
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: energy production; renewable energy; non-conventional sources; energy system design; energy efficiency; numerical simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The integrated energy–water nexus is a key strategy with which two of the most critical global challenges can be confronted simultaneously, sustainable power generation and freshwater security. Hydropower, solar and other renewable energy options deliver huge potential in the decarbonization of water treatment processes, such as desalination, wastewater recycling, and groundwater pumping. On the other hand, water is critical for powering thermal power plants, cooling solar farms, and producing biofuels. These are synergies and if they are aligned for positive impact: (i) solar-powered reverse osmosis can generate clean water for off-grid areas; (ii) wind energy can drive aeration in municipal treatment plants; and (iii) hydropower reservoirs can manage both irrigation and electricity storage.
This circular approach addresses greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, operational costs, and climatic variability. The benefits that these policies can create will only result from cross-sectoral policies, smart grid integration, and decentralized infrastructure. In the face of rising water scarcity and energy demand around the world, the nexus provides a solution for resource-efficient and low-carbon development that protects both water and energy for humanity in the near future.
This Special Issue covers a variety of topics, but is not restricted to:
- Synergistic integration of renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, and hydropower) with water treatment processes (e.g., desalination, wastewater recycling, and groundwater pumping).
- Energy-for-water dependencies, including the water requirements for thermal power plant cooling, solar farm maintenance, and biofuel production.
- Water-for-energy interdependencies (i.e., solar-powered reverse osmosis for off-grid desalination, wind energy-driven aeration in municipal wastewater treatment plants, dual use of hydropower reservoirs for irrigation and electricity storage, etc.).
- Policy and governance frameworks for cross-sectoral alignment of energy and water systems.
- Smart grid integration and decentralized infrastructure for nexus applications.
- Circular economy approaches for reducing GHG emissions and operational costs in combined energy–water systems.
- Climate resilience strategies addressing water scarcity and energy demand variability.
- Life-cycle assessments, modeling, and optimization tools for resource-efficient and low-carbon development pathways, assuring both water and energy security for future generations.
Dr. Ainhoa Rubio-Clemente
Prof. Dr. Edwin Lenin Chica Arrieta
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- energy–water nexus
- renewable power integration
- water treatment synergies
- solar desalination
- circular resource management
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
