Re‐Evaluating the Sustainability of Energy Systems: The Nexus of Energy, Water, and Land‐Use

Stigson, Peter; Roth, Susanna; Karlsson, Anja

doi:10.1002/9781118991978.hces039

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…These are (i) incorporation: which would imply bringing the issues of the three sectors into one system, (such as for example in [26,27]); (ii) cross-linking on specific interlinks which aims at highlighting priority issues (such as for example in [28,29]); and (iii) assimilation that it is the view of sector decision-makers trying to include key related sectors in their strategies (see for example [30]). Finally, Stigson and his team identify several areas of improvement to better analyse and understand the integration of the nexus [31]. Based on them, the nexus should highlight how decisions in one sector can interact with other sectors and provide tools to policymakers based on scientific knowledge.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on them, the nexus should highlight how decisions in one sector can interact with other sectors and provide tools to policymakers based on scientific knowledge. From the energy system perspective, several authors have highlighted the importance of examining existing and potential innovative energy technologies that can reduce the trade-offs across the three nexus dimensions [26,28,31,32]. In this sense, the adoption of technological improvements (e.g., dry cooling technologies) that may reduce the impacts of technologies on water and land is seen as a key area for policy integration across energy and water policies that can create synergies among those policies [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of Decarbonisation on the Water-Energy-Land (WEL) Nexus: A Case Study of the Spanish Electricity Sector

2018

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Over the last decades, combating climate change has been an important concern for policy makers. As a result, many policies have been designed towards this direction. Being electricity generation the focus of climate change mitigation policies, important changes are expected in this sector over the next few years as a result of the implementation of such policies. However, electricity production also generates other impacts on the water, energy and land (WEL) nexus that must be further investigated. To shed some light to this issue, this paper presents and discusses the potential impacts on the water-energy-land nexus resulting from the decarbonisation of the Spanish electricity system impacts under two different long-term scenarios. Using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, a set of environmental impacts relevant for the nexus have been analysed for the current and future electricity generation technologies in Spain. Additionally, through the use of an optimization energy model-Times-Spain-the evolution of the electricity technologies in Spain until 2030, under two different scenarios and targets has been assessed. Taking into consideration such scenarios, the global warming, acidification, eutrophication, ecotoxicity, water consumption, resource depletion and land use impacts have been estimated. Results show that, over time, together with the decrease of greenhouse gas emission, acidification and eutrophication tend to decrease in both scenarios. On the contrary, ecotoxicity and resource use impacts tend to increase.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Decarbonisation on the Water-Energy-Land (WEL) Nexus: A Case Study of the Spanish Electricity Sector

2018

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“…While Europe overall is not expected to have large problems with self-sufficiency (Fader et al, 2013), projections to 2050 indicate that the CEE will experience the highest increase in competition for water, especially in Bulgaria, Romania and Poland (Stigson et al, 2014;Popova et al, 2015). The climate signal regarding precipitation extremes is not as clear as for temperature extremes (Busuioc et al, 2015), showing a great regional variability.…”

Section: Droughtmentioning

confidence: 95%

Climate Change Influence on Agriculture and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Central and Eastern European Countries

Kantor

McLean²,

Kantor

2017

Not Sci Biol

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The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus concept has great potential for understanding a region's vulnerability to climate change. This paper examines individual components that form the supporting pillars of the nexus in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. An overview of specific CEE political environments that govern economic and environmental policies are examined to select several domains representing higher risks to society, environment and economies of selected countries, together with evaluation of extant interlinkages between climate change, agriculture and the WEF nexus. While a variety of studies quantify and analyze climate change impacts on water availability, crop yields, yield variability, or alternative energy needed to mitigate global warming effects, this paper shows there is no clear evidence of a nexus-based integration to help manage or mitigate extreme future climate change-related events in the region. The study provides a model for supporting WEF pillars and advances recommendations for consideration of the nexus approach in relation to climate adaptation.

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“…Similar analysis was reported by Guan et al [1], who studied the main drivers and relationships of WELN in the all Chinese economy supply chain. Results show that agriculture and light industry are critical sectors for water consumption and land occupation; meanwhile, the heavy industry and construction present the highest energy requirements.From the sustainability energy system point of view, several authors have highlighted that an improvement of energy technology can reduce the trade-offs across the three WELN dimensions [15,16]. Furthermore, it is recognized that to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources within the nexus, the integration of life cycle thinking for preventing the different environmental pressures and impacts on resources during the whole life cycle should be addressed [12].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From the sustainability energy system point of view, several authors have highlighted that an improvement of energy technology can reduce the trade-offs across the three WELN dimensions [15,16]. Furthermore, it is recognized that to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources within the nexus, the integration of life cycle thinking for preventing the different environmental pressures and impacts on resources during the whole life cycle should be addressed [12].…”

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confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Water–Energy–Land Nexus (WELN) Using Exergy-Based Indicators: The Chilean Electricity System Case

2019

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The competition and interlinkages between energy, water, and land resources are increasing globally and are exacerbated by climate change and a rapid increase in the world population. The nexus concept has emerged for a comprehensive understanding related to the management and efficiency of resource use. This paper assesses water-energy-land nexus (WELN) efficiency through integration of the principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and exergy analysis, using the Chilean energy sector (CES) as a study case. The cumulative exergy consumption (CExC) and cumulative degree of perfection (CDP) are used as indicators for WELN efficiency. The results show the production of 1 MWh of electricity required 17.3 GJ ex , with the energy component of WELN (fossil and renewable energy sources) being the main contributor (99%). Furthermore, the renewable energy technologies depicted higher CDP of the water-energy-land nexus due to lower CExC and higher technology efficiency concerning non-renewables. The water and land resources contributed slightly to total exergy flow due to low quality in comparison with the energy component. Nevertheless, water availability and competition for land occupation constitute important issues for reducing environmental pressures and local conflicts. This study demonstrated the feasibility of exergy analysis for the evaluation of WELN efficiency through a single indicator, which could facilitate the comparison and integration with different processes and multi-scales.Energies 2020, 13, 42 2 of 20The nexus concept is an systematic approach for improvement of resource management, which can reach high degrees of complexity depending on scales and processes [9]. Consequently, different qualitative and quantitative methods for conceptualizing the relationship between natural resources have been proposed. Ringler et al.[10] developed a comprehensive qualitative framework for assessing the water, energy, land and food nexus (WELF), highlighting the relevance of land in the nexus. Nevertheless, the authors did not provide methods for the WELN-nexus evaluation. Siciliano et al. [11] have recently reported on the effect of large scale farm investment in the European Union on the water-energy-land-food (WELF) nexus, using indicators related to resource availability, scarcity and access. Although the authors describe several interlinkages between the resources, the quantitative evaluation of the nexus is not clearly highlighted. Karabulut et al. [12] studied the ecosystem-water-food-land-energy (WFLE) nexus by considering the ecosystem as the main issue within this nexus. The authors highlightsthe relationship between interventions and environmental impacts. In this case, the nexus evaluation is qualitative, and the matrix proposed can be adapted to different scales to investigate the trade-offs, synergies and antagonisms.Different approaches have been used to quantitatively evaluate the WELN. Silalertruska and Gheewala [13] carried out the evaluation of the WELN of sugarcane production in Thailand, using wat...

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Re‐Evaluating the Sustainability of Energy Systems: The Nexus of Energy, Water, and Land‐Use

Cited by 7 publications

References 11 publications

Impacts of Decarbonisation on the Water-Energy-Land (WEL) Nexus: A Case Study of the Spanish Electricity Sector

Impacts of Decarbonisation on the Water-Energy-Land (WEL) Nexus: A Case Study of the Spanish Electricity Sector

Climate Change Influence on Agriculture and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Central and Eastern European Countries

Evaluation of the Water–Energy–Land Nexus (WELN) Using Exergy-Based Indicators: The Chilean Electricity System Case

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