Page 65 - European Energy Innovation - Spring 2017 publication
P. 65
Spring 2017 European Energy Innovation 65
WATER ENERGY
recognized, or little adopted. This will have an impressive impact on Overall the value of water for all sectors
the water related energy consumption, in our society will be better recognized,
In this regard, the WssTP vision depicts and contribute to decoupling the making more water and alternative
a future European society which will water-energy nexus, which is essential water sources available for different
manage not only our precious multiple to the sustainable production and to uses and users within a circular society.
direct water sources from clean rivers, support the competitiveness of the
lakes, and below ground, but also from European economy and business. ICT solutions and technologies will
alternative sources such as rain-water, prove to be an important driver,
sea and brackish water, as well as, WssTP envisions a European water digitally enabling innovations. New
brines and regenerated wastewater, sector that will be significantly markets will emerge if the “true”
all considered within a holistically transformed with respect to the current value of water is better recognized,
integrated system, which will take situation. New concepts such as and if we manage water accordingly.
into account, by the same token, the “Multiple Waters” and “Digital Water” Such an approach can only boost the
water-energy nexus. In the future, will be driving decision makers in a “traditional water market” and make
we will optimise water management new water-smart economy, enabled by new market opportunities emerge
and allocation, minimizing energy new technologies fostered within an that valorise important amounts of raw
consumption, by storing, treating and Open Innovation environment and a materials, as well as embedded energy,
distributing the right water for the redesigned water infrastructure. in used water streams, and make those
right purpose to the right users in a available for our society.
synergetic combination of centralized New governance structures, and
and decentralized water treatment. partnerships to capture the true value It is time to think and plan in new ways
Water use will be optimised based on of water, new pricing schemes and regarding energy and water. We need
the circularity principle for water such mechanisms and novel, more profound to make the drops-to-watts connection,
as cascading, reuse, recycling, while water stewardship programmes, will and make best possible use of the
enacting new economic mechanisms influence the water market gearing nexus. l
and models based on the true value towards 50% reduced pressure on
of water (such include recovering the our natural water systems. This should Contact details:
energy in water, and being able to imply also a dramatic, massive saving of Email: wsstp@wsstp.eu
extract energy from water treatment water related energy consumption, and Web: www.wsstp.eu
processes). optimized energy recovery from water.
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
