Water for Energy Crisis

8/3/2019 Water for Energy Crisis

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Water for Biofuels,ater for Biofuels,vs.s.Water for foodater for food

Danida Development Days, 10 June 2008anida Development Days, 10 June 2008Henrik Larsen, DHIenrik Larsen, DHI


2/17

Water for people Water for food

Securing basic water needs takes50 l/cap/day

=> a political will problem!

Securing our basic diet takes2500 l/cap/day

=> a real water problem !


3/17

Securing food supply

Food needs water!

1999 to 2025:

Grain production: + 40%

=>

Irrigation: +15-20%!? (IWMI)


4/17

Source: World Resources 2000-2001, People and Ecosystems: The Fraying Web of Life,ource: World Resou rces 2000-2001, People and Ecosystems: The Fraying Web of Life,World Resources Institute, 2000.orld Resources Institute, 2000.


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0

000

0000

0000

0000

0000

0000

1111 0000 1111 1111 1111 0000 0000 0000

Consumption,

km

0/year

Agriculture

Industry

Municipal

needsReservoir

Assessment

Forecast

Water Consumption - after Shiklomanov 2000

(before the era of biofuels!)

Where

willth

eextra

Where

willth

eextra

watercom

efrom

?

watercom

efrom

?

We need to increase theWe need to increase the

efficiency of water useefficiency of water use


8/17

Water Footprintsater FootprintsA water footprint is the amount of waterwater footprint is the amount of water

consumed to provide a good or service.onsumed to provide a good or service.

For energy: based on water consumed for:or energy: based on water consumed for: Production/extraction of raw materialsroduction/extraction of raw materials Refining raw fuelsefining raw fuels Producing energy at a power plantroducing energy at a power plant


9/17

Water Footprints (virtualater Footprints (virtualwater):ater):some everyday examplesome everyday examples

Productroduct Water consumedater consumed(liters)liters)1 glass beerglass beer 75751 cup coffeecup coffee 1401401 glass milkglass milk 2002001 liter bio-ethanolliter bio-ethanol 1200200

The good news: drink beer!The good news: drink beer!

A c r i t ic a l wa te r ene rgy i s suec r it ic a l wa te r ene rgy i s sue

Productroduct Water consumedater consumed(liters)liters)1 glass beerglass beer 75751 cup coffeecup coffee 1401401 glass milkglass milk 2002001 cotton T-shirtcotton T-shirt 20000001 hamburgerhamburger 24004001 pair leather shoespair leather shoes 8000000


10/17

Virtual water as a means to manage water ?


11/17

Water footprints for energy:ater footprints for energy:Water consumed by energy typeater consumed by energy typeSource: DHI UNESCO-IHE

Energy Type Water consumed(m3/MWh)

Wind 0.001 ~0

Gas 1 0.4Coal 2 0.6

Nuclear 2.5 0.3

Oil/Petrol 44

Hydropower 68 80

Bio-fuel (corn, US) 184 66

Bio-fuel (sugar, Brazil) 293 90


12/17

Comparison of water footprint within country:omparison of water footprint within country:different cropsifferent crops

Abs. avg (m3/MWh): NL = 87, US = 210, Bz = 220, Zb =bs. avg (m3/MWh): NL = 87, US = 210, Bz = 220, Zb =Source: Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra & Van der Meer (2008): Water Footprint of Bio-energy and Otherource: Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra & Van der Meer (2008): Water Footprint of Bio-energy and OtherPrimary Energy Carrier s (UNESCO-IHE)rimary Energy Carriers (UNESCO-IHE)

Cropmatte

rsCrop

matters

Locationm

atters

Locationm

atters


13/17

Water and climate change


14/17

e overa p c ureI PCC W G 2 Fou r th A s se s sm en t Repo r t , Ap r il 2007 :PCC W G 2 Fou r th A s se s sm en t Repo r t , Ap r il 2007 :C l im a te Change Impac t s , adap ta t ion andl im a te Change Impac t s , adap ta t ion andvu lne rab i l i t yu lne rab i l i t y

Global warming will hit through water:Global warming will hit through water:

Throughhrough climate changelimate change ::- changes in the hydrological cyclehanges in the hydrological cycle- sea level riseea level rise- increased water temperaturesncreased water temperatures

Through increasedhrough increased climate variability:limate variability: - more serious and frequent extremes,ore serious and frequent extremes,such as floods, droughts, typhoonsuch as floods, droughts, typhoons
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/C92C3262-E7F2-99DF-30FA22A938862F9A_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm%3FchanID%3Dsa003%26articleID%3DC92C3262-E7F2-99DF-30FA22A938862F9A&h=333&w=320&sz=25&hl=en&start=22&um=1&tbnid=rtR3B32srHUJGM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof%2Bclimate%2Bchange%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4DMUS_enUS243US243%26sa%3DN


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IPCC Precipitation projections1 9 9 0 - > 2 0 9 09 9 0 - > 2 0 9 0

No r t h e r n W in t e r le f t ; S u m m e r r ig h to r t h e r n W i n te r le f t ; S um m e r r ig h t


16/17

The overall picture

Wet ge t t ing w e t t e r d r y ge t t i ng d r i e re t ge t t ing w e t t e r d r y g e t t ing d r i e r- p l u s 10 -40% i n w e t r eg i ons (mos t l y No r th )p l u s 10 -40% i n w e t r eg i ons (mos t l y No r th )- m inus 10 -30% i n d r y r eg i ons (mos t l y Sou th )m inus 10 -30% i n d r y r eg ions (mos t l y Sou th )

Change s i n s now cove rhanges i n snow cove r-> 1 /6 o f W or l d popu l a t ion expe r i enc i ng l owe r run -> 1 /6 o f W or l d popu l a t ion expe r i enc i ng l owe r run -

o f f fr om m a jo r moun ta i n r angesf f f r om m a jo r moun ta i n r angesHurting the poor in the poor regions!Hurting the poor in the poor regions!

- po t en t i a l r educ t i on i n f ood p roduc t i on + h i ghe rpo ten t ia l r educ t i on i n f ood p rodu c t ion + h i ghe rp r i cer i ce


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Discussion themesiscussion themes How do and how should the water footprints ofow do and how should the water footprints ofdifferent energy types impact our choice ofifferent energy types impact our choice ofenergy sources?nergy sources? If we dont have enough water for both, how dof we dont have enough water for both, how dowe prioritise between production of food ande prioritise between production of food andbiofuels?iofuels? How will climate change impact on the balanceow will climate change impact on the balance

between biofuels and food production?etween biofuels and food production?

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Water for Energy Crisis