Page 53 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2019 publication

Autumn 2019 European Energy Innovation 53
no such thing as energy and water
sectors as such – definitely not from
a nexus perspective.
Certainly, though, there are common
issues standing out to the delivery
of water and energy services from
a nexus standpoint: the need to
decouple energy/water consumption
from economic growth and
development, etc. What looks like
the actual challenge, at this point,
is not to optimise interlinkages
between energy and water services
delivery but rather to progress in
terms of resilience, sustainability, and the demand for energy will nearly
adaptability.
Turning the attention on the work of
some European companies beyond
Europe, it is hopeful to see that
their successful performance shows
that further integration of water
and energy variables is feasible and
desirable. All in all, there is clear
evidence of massive savings potential
that can not only increase water
and energy use efficiency but also
deliver dividends in terms of financial
returns and wider economic and
social benefits.
Session 2: Interlinkages between
Water and Energy Services
Dr. Floor Brouwer: Senior
Researcher, Wageningen
Economic Research
Water and energy services are
strongly interlinked. The provision of
energy services is very dependent
upon the availability of sufficient
water of good quality. Similarly, the
provision of water services requires
energy. The transition towards a
low-carbon and green economy
will involve energy-saving actions,
improving energy efficiency and
increasing energy production from
renewable sources. ‘Is there potential
for synergies with the water sector
and how could they be achieved?’
was amongst the key questions the
session on the ‘Interlinkages between
Water and Energy Services’ raised.
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
WATER & ENERGY
With a series of examples of key
interlinkages between water and
energy, as well as examples regarding
water innovations in the transition to similarities. Both are subject to
a low-carbon economy presented,
the panel stressed out the need to
find synergies between urban energy
challenges and their connection
to water, demonstrating examples
as energy-neutral WWTPs, cooling
capacity from water supply systems,
heat from sewers.
The panel also referred to the
estimations showing that by 2050,
double globally, while water demand
is estimated to increase by over
50%. Undoubtedly, the challenge
of meeting growing demand will be
further compounded by climate
change impacts. Still though, on a
positive note, the panel highlighted
that there are untapped potentials,
that if seized, will manage to improve learn from each other?’ explored
energy efficiency, pursue energy
recovery and reduce water losses,
saving both energy and water.
Session 3: Water & Energy Services
What can they learn from each
other?
Dr. Lydia S. Vamvakeridou-
Lyroudia: Watershare
Programme Director, KWR
Watercycle Research Institute
Water and energy services
are strongly interlinked. The
provision of energy services
is very dependent upon the
availability of sufficient
water of good quality.
Water and energy utilities
and services are both critical
infrastructures, sharing many
similar security (physical and
cybersecurity) issues. Both are
providers to households and interact
directly with citizen customers, in
terms of pricing, bills and services.
Both are facing digitalisation for
their operational management and
both are on the receiving end of
climate change impacts that will
affect customer demand. When it
comes to legislation, both water
and energy utilities are facing similar
regulatory issues and are supervised
by regulatory bodies.
What more would we need to
address all these issues in one panel
session? The session on ‘Water and
Energy Services: What can they
the practices that would mutually
benefit the water and energy services,
as well as the main issues that they
would need to overcome to be able
to develop synergies for data share
and data exchange, interoperability,
customer awareness campaigns,
combined response to threats, risk
management.
As highlighted in the panel, the
increased fragmentation of the water