Renewable energy in the water-energy-food nexus

September 5, 2014 | By


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Water, energy and food systems are inextricably linked: Water and energy are needed to produce food; water is needed for most power generation; energy is required to treat and transport water -- the relationships and trade-offs within this triangle of resources are known collectively as the water-energy-food nexus, according to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) who has a new report focusing on creating sustainable solutions within the water-energy-food nexus.

The agrifood sector alone -- the most prominent single subsector within the nexus -- accounts for some 80 percent of total freshwater use, 30 percent of total energy demand, and 12 to 30 percent of manmade greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, according to REEEP.

With global food production expected to increase 70 percent by 2050, the sector is facing unprecedented resource pressures, with more to come, which is why REEEP is calling for clean energy enterprise development in the sector and urging them to develop collaborative strategies and networks with other businesses and natural gas organizations (NGO).

"Understanding the inter-linkages between water resources, energy production and food security -- the "water-energy-food nexus" -- and managing them holistically is critical to global sustainability," according to the report.

Some agrifood business have adopted "nexus thinking" and are generating renewable energy from reclaimed agricultural waste and wastewater, reducing water use for processing and packaging, and cutting energy required for heating and cooling. Others have invested in renewable energy technology such as solar stream irrigation pumps to replace manual pumps or engine pumps used in irrigation. Still others are considering different fuel types, such as liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, and biogas, as well as looking at high-efficiency types of heating like direct heat and steam boilers.

For more:
- see the report 

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http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/renewable-energy-water-energy-food-nexus/2014-09-05