The water-energy nexus: enhancing the role of virtual water and

renewable energy

Can implementation of the Water Nexus support economic growth in the Mediterranean region?

12-13 February 2015, Ankara, Turkey

Maamar Sebri University of Sousse, Tunisia maamer.sebri@gmail.com

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Contents

• Water-energy nexus: direct link and feedback

• Water scarcity in the Mediterranean region

• Coping with water scarcity: Desalination

• Coping with water scarcity: Virtual water

• Conclusion

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Water, energy and food

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The water-energy nexus

Source: IRENA, 2015 4

Renewable freshwater availability per inhabitant in the Mediterranean region

Source: Ben Jannet Allal, 2014 5

Vulnerability of Mediterranean water system

• In 2025: the 250 million person will live in countries with less than 1000 m3 /habitant/ year

• 80 million of whom will have “scarce” water (i.e. countries with less than 500 m3 /habitant/year)

• In 2008, the Mediterranean region accounted for 60% of the population of the world’s “water-poor” countries

• 20 million Mediterranean inhabitants, mainly in rural areas, have no access to drinking water

Source : Plan Bleu (2008)

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Renewable water per capita per year

Libya Tunisia Algeria Morocco

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Coping with water scarcity (1): desalination

• In addition to efficient water management, wastewater treatment, water desalination is a another option

• Desalination is an intensive-energy consumer

• Desalination using renewable energy resources is the most promising solution

• This can help supply a share of water needs in a sustainable manner

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Total contracted capacity of all desalination plants

Source: Ben Jannet Allal, 2014 9

Amount of energy required to provide 1 m3

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Renewable energy

• The energy requirements for desalination can be met through renewable energy,

• Until recently, only small desalination plants use renewable energy in the Maghreb countries,

• Desalination plants have operated successfully using solar, wind or geothermal energy,

• A huge solar energy potential of the Maghreb countries

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Renewable electricity production in 2012 (Gwh) and objectives

Country Total electricity production

Total Renewable electricity

2012, % Target, %

Algeria 54086 449 0.83 By 2030: 40%

Libya 33980 - - By 2020: 10%

Morocco 26356 2570 9.75 By 2020: 42%

Tunisia 16780 313 1.9 By 2030: 30%

Source: United Nations, 2013 12

Some measures to be undertaken at local level

• Encourage private sector partnerships on renewable energy supported by new financing and legal mechanisms,

• Further integration of renewable energy policies with development plans,

• Strengthened institutional, financial and legal mechanisms to support and spread of renewable energy

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Some sub-regional energy projects in the Mediterranean region

• The Maghreb Electricity Sub-Regional Project

• The Energy Efficiency in the Mediterranean Construction Sector project

• The Medstat II Energy Component project

• The PROSOL project

• The TuNur project

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TuNur project: Solar energy export from Tunisia to Europe

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Coping with water scarcity (2): virtual water

• Virtual water trade refers to the implicit exchange of water content in the production of goods and services traded among countries

• This trade of virtual water, in which countries import food supplies, effectively substitutes for water that would otherwise have been used in local production

• Virtual water leads also to energy saving: reduction in withdrawal of irrigation water, reduction in the desalination, …

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Global water savings associated with international trade in agricultural products, 1996-2005

Source: Mekonnen and Hoekstra, 2011 17

Virtual water imports (Figure A) and exports (Figure B) in tonne grain/year

Source: Dermody et al. 2014

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Virtual water in the Maghreb region

Countries Total virtual water imports (m3/capita)

Ratio of virtual water imports to renewable water resources

Algeria 335 0.71

Libya 566 5.66

Morocco 207 0.19

Tunisia 257 0.59

Source: Yang & Zehnder, 2002 19

Renewable energy and virtual water: win-win approaches

• Improve security of water supply,

• Limit the cost of access to water

• Limit the environmental impacts (of fossil energy),

• Have the potential to enhance economic growth,

• Enhance food security.

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In Conclusion

• The Mediterranean region needs to:

– Understand the existing nature of the water-energy nexus,

– Estimate its impacts under various future scenarios,

– Identify robust policy options to improve energy and water security

• A comprehensive strategy through a multidisciplinary approach

• Effective communication, negotiation, analysis, and participation and harmonization of the work plans of various countries

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Thank you

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