Photo shows a green landscape with a row of modern wind mills and solar panels to produce clean energy. A canal of water flows on the right side of the photo into the horizon,

Energy and Water

Exploring the interdependence of two critical resources

Share of global population without access to safe drinking water 26
Number of desalination plants operating around the world 21K

Energy and water are deeply and fundamentally connected.

Water is essential for almost every aspect of producing energy, from electricity generation to fossil fuel extraction to biofuels cultivation. In fact, the energy sector accounts for roughly 10% of all global freshwater withdrawals. Meanwhile, energy is crucial to maintaining global water supply. It is needed to extract water from lakes, rivers and oceans; lift groundwater from aquifers and pump it through pipes and canals; and treat water and deliver it to users.

This interdependence is set to intensify in the coming years. Each resource faces rising demand and growing constraints in many regions because of economic and population growth, as well as climate change. This has significant implications for ensuring both energy and water security.

Energy demand for water desalination is poised to double to 2030

Almost all of the world’s water demand is met by groundwater and surface water. However, water stress has led to an increase in the use of non-traditional resources, such as saltwater. This requires desalination, the process of separating saline water (seawater or brackish water) into freshwater and concentrated salt.

Global energy demand for desalination has nearly doubled since 2010, Und an current deadline tiberity tiberity to entother doute 2030. Some 21.000 desalination currently currently mit lokalen parametern in mit einem abführenden 150 cent countries, from the United States and China to Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia – though half of global installed capacity is located in the Middle East and North Africa.

Learn more in our commentary

Energy demand for desalination in the Stated Policies Scenario, 1990-2030

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Renewables can help ease the energy sector's water problem

Energy, Water and the Sustainable Development Goals

Excerpt from World Energy Outlook 2018

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In a scenario in which global energy sector emissions reach net zero by 2050, water withdrawals by the energy sector decline by almost 20 bcm by 2030. The biggest reductions happen in the power sector, where withdrawals fall nearly 15% as coal-fired power generation is quickly replaced by solar PV and wind. Greater energy efficiency also plays an important role in reducing the volume of water needed to meet global energy demand. Learn more in our commentary.