The application of water–energy nexus in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: a structured review

Abstract

Water plays an important role in power generation, fuel manufacturing, and processing. This has been valid for several decades, but lately, primarily due to climate change, the limitations and insecurity related to water energy connections have become more prominent. The article is a quantitative review study conducted to evaluate the water–energy nexus in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Information about the review was generated from online databases by using keywords such as water–energy nexus, MENA region, Power Generation, Fuel Manufacturing, Energy-intensive, Energy Management Decisions, and Desalination Systems. Drip irrigation in Morocco played a vital role in the water–energy nexus for resource conservation and their better utilization. From the findings, it was revealed that distorted coupling with a relatively low reliance on freshwater energy systems has a high reliance on conceptual water and energy production systems. For Saudi Arabia, extraction and desalination of groundwater are projected to be up to 9% of total annual electricity use. Policymakers should consider energy implications for water-intensive food imports and possible water demand restructuring. This would lead to more coordinated water and energy management decisions. A comprehensive evaluation in some cases promotes the reuse of water and improvements in the agricultural sector rather than the development of energy-intensive and expensive desalination systems. One of the limitations for water–energy nexus in the MENA region is its unintelligible patterns for policy and decision-makers, and this quantitative review can be a major advancement in this regard. This study also highlights the use of water as an energy production source as well as the energy that is being utilized in water treatment and processing and their interrelationship. Cohesive and strategic tactics can lead technology’s research and development to reporting local issues of water and energy issues. Improving and participating models and data will better assist scholars, decision-makers, and the community. This water–energy nexus study mounts relevant challenges and areas of improvement for future research.

Occurrence and risks of microplastics in the ecosystems of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

“…Hence, more research and applications of end-of-pipe capture techniques are needed to reduce the emissions of MPs from wastewater to the freshwater and marine compartments. Furthermore, countries in the vicinity of the Arab/Persian Gulf as well as Israel, Egypt, and Algeria are increasingly relying on desalination technologies to secure their needs of drinking water (Maftouh et al 2022 ; Ouda et al 2021 ). Membrane-based reverse osmosis plants can potentially concentrate microplastics on the membrane and in the retentate reducing the risk of ingestion through drinking water (Tang & Hadibarata 2021 ).…”

“…Membrane-based reverse osmosis plants can potentially concentrate microplastics on the membrane and in the retentate reducing the risk of ingestion through drinking water (Tang & Hadibarata 2021 ). However, this increases the risk of membrane fouling which would decrease the permeate flux and reduce the overall productivity of the reverse osmosis plant (Maftouh et al 2022 ). Consequently, research efforts are needed to minimize the number of MPs in the permeate while simultaneously prolonging the lifespan of the membrane and maintaining the efficiency of membrane-based desalination systems.…”

The National and International Water Policies With Focus on the Drainage Water Reuse Practices and the Mega Water Projects

“…It can be inferred that salts amounts from the agricultural lands of the Nile Delta increases with time proportional to the implementation of the water-saving policies and with the multiple drainage water reuse. In this context, it is good to highlight that turning 800 thousand feddans of heavy clayey soil agricultural lands in the Nile Delta from improved surface irrigation into modern irrigation (sprinkler and drip systems) might cause significant soil salinization problem with time due to the insufficient leaching and accordingly salts continue to accommodate significantly in the root zone Maftouh et al (2022). India would require around 311 million tons of food grains (cereals and pulses) during 2030 to feed around 1.43 billion people, and the requirement expectedly would further increase to 350 million tons by 2050 when India's population would be around 1.8 billion.…”

“…Innovations in dealing with the water-energy-food nexus (Figure 1) in arid zones like Egypt is increasing, especially when it comes to desalination, wastewater treatment technologies, and groundwater pumping Maftouh et al (2022). Egypt has implemented a combined policy of improving surface irrigation in the old lands (within the Nile Valley and the Nile Delta), while reuse agriculture drainage generated from improved surface irrigation, as well as enforcing modern irrigation such as drip and sprinkler irrigation in the new desert reclamation lands.…”

Economic feasibility of solar-powered reverse osmosis water desalination: a comparative systemic review

“…Considering the arid climate in these countries with freshwater scarcity, there is an increasing need to treatwastewater, seawater and brackish water for satisfying the increasing demand (Maftouh et al, 2022;Quteishat & Abu-Arabi, 2006).…”