Panel Discussion “Nexus
between Water and Energy
K. Yumkella, Director General,
UNIDO
18 June, 2013
1
The Nexus between Water and Energy
“Energy production consumes
significant amounts of water; providing
water, in turn, consumes energy. In a
world where water scarcity is a major
and growing challenge, meeting future
energy needs depends on water
availability –and meeting water needs
depends on wise energy policy
decisions.”
(World Policy Institute and EBG Capital, March 2011)
Energy needs water
 Energy production depends on water  some 580 billion
cubic metres of freshwater are withdrawn for energy
production every year (IEA, 2012)
 Water is used for primary energy production as well as
power generation esp. for cooling at thermal power plants
 Extraction, transport and processing of fuels and
irrigation to grow biomass feed-stock are also waterintensive
Key uses of water for primary production (IEA, 2012)
3
Water needs energy
 Energy is vital to providing freshwater  needed to power
systems that collect, transport, distribute and treat water.
(US Department of Energy, 2006)
4
Energy-Water-Nexus in Numbers
Primary production
Power generation
Overview of water requirements for
different energy sources.
(IEA, World Energy Outlook, 2012)
5
Population
growth and
urbanisation
Source: WEO, 2012 (Table 1.3)
People without
access to
electricity (2010)
Data source:
IEA WEO 2012 Table 18.1, p532
Decision-making at the Nexus: The Key Challenge
for post-2015 Development Framework and SDGs
 Energy decisions have a broad range of impacts on water, with
consequences for business, security, environment, social equity and
development.
 Identifying these interrelationships presents opportunities for policy makers,
business leaders, investors, non-governmental organizations for informed
policy and governance to address related problems and global challenges
(e.g. climate change, food and energy security or eliminating poverty).
8
Vienna Energy Forum : The Energy Future We Want Considering Water & Food in the Energy Debate (side event)
UNIDO, in collaboration with international partners, including IIASA, GIZ, BMZ, SE4ALL, OPEC and the
Vienna Energy Club, organized a side event on the water-energy-food nexus during the Vienna Energy
Forum. Policy-makers and representatives from the private sector and academia debated the intricate link
between water, energy and food, and explore the opportunities presented by this link to address major global
development challenges:
•
Intersectoral dialogue is required to address security concerns in the water-energy-food nexus;
•
Integrated approach to water-energy-food nexus will lower the cost of achieving global energy
goals (i.e. SE4All goals);
•
While the need to consider water-energy-food in the nexus is broadly acknowledged, the tools
and expertise are not fully available to support political dialogue;
•
Integrated resource planning tools and analysis are required to address complexity.
•
Thinking in a water, energy and food security nexus perspective is central to the Green Industry
and the consideration of SDGs.

9
UNIDO Activities in Water Energy Nexus
•
•
•
•
UNIDO-IIASA Study on WaterEnergy Nexus:
Defining critical linkages between
water and energy
Exploring opportunities for
informed policy and governance
Examining the potential to pursue
the Nexus in the SE4ALL Agenda
Exploring options for capacity
development and knowledgesharing
10
Future outlook & policy implications
 Water withdrawal by the energy sector is expected to rise by
one-fifth through 2035, while the amount consumed (not
returned directly to the environment) by a more dramatic 85%
(IEA, 2012)
 While nations evaluate their energy options and develop their
policies, appropriate incentives will need to be employed to
encourage technologies that promote sustainable energy
production – from a cost, carbon, security and water
perspective.
 Given the location-specific nature of water resources, the
nexus must be considered at the water basin level, or even at
particular sites. Stakeholders will need to know how to
manage the trade-offs between water and energy at the local,
national, and cross-border levels.
11
WWW.GREENINDUSTRYPLATFORM.ORG
THE GREEN INDUSTRY
INITIATIVE
Greening of Industries
Creating New Green
Industries
Helping enterprises improve resource
productivity and environmental performance





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Efficient use of materials, energy and
water
Reduction of wastes and emissions
Safe and responsible management of
chemicals, renewable raw materials
Phasing out toxic substances
Substituting fossil fuels with renewable
energy sources
Product and process redesign, Green
Chemistry
Establishing new operations delivering
environmental goods and services





Reduce, reuse and recycle (3R)
industries
Pollution control technology and
equipment
Renewable and energy-efficient
technologies
Waste management and resource
recovery
Environmental advisory and analytical
services
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BENEFITS OF GREEN
INDUSTRY
Economic
Social
More Innovation and Growth;
Increased Resilience…
Increase resource
productivity
 Bring down production costs
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development and innovation
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
Environmental
More Employment, Rising
Incomes and Empowerment…
Create new jobs and make
existing jobs more secure
 Reduce poverty
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capacity
 Improve occupational health
and safety conditions
 Safeguard health and safety
of communities
 Lower risks to consumers

More Efficient Resource Use;
Less Waste and Pollution…
Reduce environmental
pollution
 Counteract resource
depletion
 Prevent degradation of
ecosystems
 Mitigate climate change
 Combat water scarcity

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GREEN INDUSTRY
PLATFORM LAUNCHED AT
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•
•
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•
High-level, multi-stakeholder, transformative partnership framework
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Members include businesses, governments, international and civil
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PRIORITY AREAS
Resource Efficiency
Water Optimization
Industrial Energy
Efficiency
Chemicals Management
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MEMBERS COMMIT TO…
Improving Resource Efficiency

Strengthening Waste Management

Reducing and Eliminating Toxic Materials

Pursuing Energy Efficiency and Using Renewable Energy

Adopting a Lifetime Approach to Product Manufacture
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Making Finance Available to Green Industry
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Promoting Technology Transfer and Sharing Best Practices
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Greening Global Value Chains
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Supporting Green Industry Research and Innovation
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Fostering Green Industries and Jobs
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Setting Green Industry Targets
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WWW.GREENINDUSTRYPLATFORM.ORG
MEMBERSHIP STATUS
146 {
Platform
Members
•
•
25 Governments
 70 Businesses


51 Int’l, Business, Civil Society
Organizations
Expressions of interest from over 70 more entities
Second wave of targeted invitations upcoming
(Top performers in sustainability, academic and research institutions and charitable foundations)
As of 23/05/2013
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Thank you for your attention