Localizing the Water-Energy Nexus: The Relationship between Solar Thermal Power Plants and Future Developments in Local Water Demand

Abstract

Water availability plays an important role in the expansion planning of utility-scale solar power plants, especially in the arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa. Although these power plants usually account for only a small fraction of local water demand, competition for water resources between communities, farmers, companies, and power suppliers is already emerging and is likely to intensify in future. Despite this, to date there has been a lack of comprehensive studies analyzing interdependencies and potential conflicts between energy and water at local level. This study addresses this research gap and examines the linkages between water resources and energy technologies at local level based on a case study conducted in Ouarzazate, Morocco, where one of the largest solar power complexes in the world was recently completed. To better understand the challenges faced by the region in light of increased water demand and diminishing water supply, a mixed-method research design was applied to integrate the knowledge of local stakeholders through a series of workshops. In a first step, regional socio-economic water demand scenarios were developed and, in a second step, water saving measures to avoid critical development pathways were systematically evaluated using a participatory multi-criteria evaluation approach. The results are a set of water demand scenarios for the region and a preferential ranking of water saving measures that could be drawn upon to support decision-making relating to energy and water development in the region.

Remote Sensing of Geomorphodiversity Linked to Biodiversity—Part III: Traits, Processes and Remote Sensing Characteristics

“…The increasing global loss of river connectivity and consequently the loss of fully functioning ecosystems has had dramatic impacts on the world's coasts, e.g., in Brazil, Mexico, the USA, Greece, or Japan. Reservoirs alter the balance of sediment and coastal erosion, change the flora and fauna, and lead to a loss of functioning ecosystems ecosystems [14,120]. Deforestation and slash-and-burn practices also lead to severe erosion and the alteration of biodiversity and geomorphodiversity, as well as the entire hydrological regime in mountainous or rainforest areas [121], while mining or geothermal energy practices lead to subsidence or sinkholes.…”

Review of Publications on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Climate Change Adaptation Using Bibliometric Analysis: A Case Study of Africa

“…In this paper, we recognise that in Africa there have been several studies on the various combinations of the WEF nexus (Table 1), as different authors have viewed the WEF nexus from various perspectives. The variations of nexus studies that have been conducted in Africa include Food-Energy-Water (FEW/WEF) nexus [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]; Energy-Water-Food-Waste and Sanitation (EWFWS) nexus [28]; Water-Land-Food (WLF) nexus [29]; Water-Energy-Food-Biodiversity-Health (WEFBH) nexus [28]; Soil-Food-Water (SFW) nexus [30]; Water-Energy (WE) nexus [31]; Water-Energy-Climate Change (WECC) nexus [32].…”

Analyzing Stakeholder Perceptions of Water Ecosystem Services to Enhance Resilience in the Middle Drâa Valley, Southern Morocco

“…The area is characterized by its hot and arid climate, with increasing aridity along a north-south-east direction [30,31]. Average annual rainfall in the region is around 200 mm in the north and 30 mm in the south [19]. Due to its aridity, population, infrastructure and agriculture are concentrated along the river and its oases [27].…”

“…The Middle Drâa Valley (MDV) is an important part of the basin, where approximately 225,000 inhabitants depend on rainfed and irrigation agriculture in oases for their livelihoods [16,17]. Recent analyses suggest that this type of agriculture may not be feasible in the near future due to dropping groundwater levels and water salinization [18,19]. These events have generated a growing need for sustainable water governance in the MDV.…”