Electricity for groundwater use: constraints and opportunities for adaptive response to climate change

Abstract

Globally, groundwater use is intensifying to meet demands for irrigation, urban supply, industrialization, and, in some instances, electrical power generation. In response to hydroclimatic variability, surface water is being substituted with groundwater, which must be viewed as a strategic resource for climate adaptation. In this sense, the supply of electricity for pumping is an adaptation policy tool. Additionally, planning for climate-change mitigation must consider CO 2 emissions resulting from pumping. This paper examines the influence of electricity supply and pricing on groundwater irrigation and resulting emissions, with specific reference to Mexico-a climate-water-energy 'perfect storm'. Night-time power supply at tariffs below the already-subsidized rates for agricultural groundwater use has caused Mexican farmers to increase pumping, reversing important water and electricity conservation gains achieved. Indiscriminate groundwater pumping, including for virtual water exports of agricultural produce, threatens the long-term sustainability of aquifers, non-agricultural water uses, and stream-aquifer interactions that sustain riparian ecosystems. Emissions resulting from agricultural groundwater pumping in Mexico are estimated to be 3.6% of total national emissions and are equivalent to emissions from transporting the same agricultural produce to market. The paper concludes with an assessment of energy, water, and climate trends coupled with policy futures to address these challenges.

Understanding the Water–Food–Energy Nexus for Supporting Sustainable Food Production and Conserving Hydropower Potential in China

“…Nevertheless, further investigation is needed to address the important role of reservoirs in optimizing the WFE nexus. As a large amount of energy is consumed to pump groundwater for irrigation (Scott, 2013), groundwater consumption for irrigation provides another dimension of the WFE nexus in comparison to surface water consumption. Merging surface water and groundwater into an integrated research system can demonstrate a more comprehensive picture of the WFE nexus and deserves detailed investigation in future studies.…”

Future irrigation expansion outweigh groundwater recharge gains from climate change in semi-arid India

“…Increased climatic variability in the future (e.g. more frequent droughts) may further promote the groundwater use as a potential adaptation measure (Scott, 2013;Taylor et al, 2013). Many of the semi-arid regions, including the Indo-Gangetic plain and crystalline aquifers in central and south India, are already experiencing groundwater depletion and other environmental problems (Palanisami et al, 2008;Panda and Wahr, 2016;Rodell et al, 2009;Sishodia et al, 2016).…”

Co-benefits and trade-offs in the water–energy nexus of irrigation modernization in China

“…One example is the potential for co-benefits or trade-offs to occur when attempting to reduce water application in irrigated agriculture, because energy is generally required for increased pumping, pressurizing and conveyance: situations with groundwater use for irrigation might provide co-benefits via energy savings from reduced pumping and water application (Zou et al 2013); while situations with surface water might induce trade-offs between reductions in water application and increases in emissions when energy-intensive irrigation technology is deployed. Outcomes can be quantified and explored using a water-energy nexus perspective (WEF 2011, Sanders and Webber 2012, Hightower et al 2013, Scott 2013, DoE 2014, Finley and Seiber 2014, Frumhoff et al 2015, Healy et al 2015, Iseman and Tidwell 2015. Irrigation comprises the second largest contribution (22%) to the total carbon footprint of crop production in China (Cheng et al 2011).…”