Learn about the water-smart energy transition at World Water Week

COP 28 called on the world to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, and the importance of doing so can’t be overstated. Global warming is causing sea levels to rise and climate hazards to intensify and – unless we make changes now to reduce emissions – it will only get worse.

Renewable energies like wind, solar, biofuels, and hydrogen will all play a key role in reducing carbon emissions while maintaining a secure energy supply. But while they have a significantly lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels, there’s one resource they cannot operate without: water.

Energy and water are intrinsically linked. The energy sector is the second largest water user (only agriculture uses more) and this dependence increases with renewables. Water plays a critical role in renewable energy generation from infrastructure and resource development to the electrolysis process of hydrogen energy production itself.

Managing water resources appropriately while maximising renewable energy production is a sensitive balancing act, but done right, it can boost sustainability and resilience in the energy sector.

Water’s complex role in clean energy production

While wind and solar energy production typically use a much smaller amount of water than non-renewable options, other renewable energies will put pressure on a water supply that’s already stretched.

Hydrogen production

The electrolysis process required for hydrogen production demands ultra-pure water. Treating water to this level can be costly. And it produces waste – like brine, which adds another layer of complexity with tight regulations over how and where it can be discharged.

As well as using water for electrolysis, hydrogen production also demands large quantities of water for cooling. So, a holistic approach to water management is crucial to maximise efficiency.

Learn more about the role of water in hydrogen production and five steps to mitigate water risks.

Biofuels

Depending on the environment, growing crops for biofuel can require a huge amount of irrigation – and that means a consistent supply of water. In fact, the water demand of biomass is the highest of any energy generation technology.

But biomass does offer a huge opportunity to accelerate the energy transition – and sustainable water management will help achieve that.

Discover the potential of biomass streams in producing clean energy.

Hydropower

Perhaps the most obvious use of water in the energy sector is harnessing the power of water itself.

Hydropower is difficult to generate, as it requires a consistent supply of water and a large amount of land. But by integrating hydropower generation into existing infrastructure like dams, water’s energy can be harnessed without large impacts on supply.

Investigate how waves, currents, and tides can be harnessed into usable electricity.

Turn a challenge into an opportunity

While adding complexity to the energy transition, the demand renewable production methods have on water is by no means an insurmountable roadblock.

Adopting a robust water masterplan helps ensure investments are appropriate and operations are optimised. Plus, innovative technological solutions can help reduce cost, energy consumption, and the risk of downtime.

Building water management into a complete energy transition strategy will help secure business continuity, eliminate risk, and identify opportunities to adopt more sustainable practices.

A connected approach to energy and water is crucial

Water plays a vital role in the energy transition, and responsible water management is crucial for regulatory compliance, business continuity, and protecting supply for the future.

At Royal HaskoningDHV we take a multi-faceted approach to every project we’re involved in. We combine our expertise in the water and energy industries and incorporate our deep knowledge and experience of best practices for sustainability, resilience, and ESG – culminating in an unmatched service.

This connected approach means we can help our clients to optimise water-related strategies and processes, foster operational efficiency, and adopt sustainable business practices.

For example, we put this experience into practice when supporting Chemelot, an industrial park in the Netherlands. There, we produced a roadmap of interventions to reduce water use and emissions and support water circularity across 60 factories.

We shared our knowledge at World Water Week 2024

As part of our mission to enhance society together, we take every opportunity we can to share our knowledge to create a more sustainable, resilient, and safeguarded world.

And we were delighted to be able to do so at World Water Week 2024. There, in an interactive workshop with the title " Water Smart Energy Transition – The Impact of Renewable Energy Investments", Lennart Silvis, Global Director of Water for Industry at Royal HaskoningDHV, moderated a panel involving experts from IPIECA, the Government of the Netherlands, the World Bank, and WWF.

Together, they shared valuable insights into how water considerations can be sustainably integrated into renewable energy projects, key policy changes needed to promote water-smart energy practices, financial strategies for water-smart energy projects, and how renewable energy projects impact local communities and ecosystems.

Promoting NbS investments in the SIDS region

We were also present on the panel for World Water Week’s live studio talkshow: Upscaling Blended Finance for NbS Investments within the SIDS Region.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face a large and unique threat from climate change, so building resilience is crucial. While Nature-based solutions (NbS) deliver compelling social, economic, and environmental benefits, investment in NbS projects remains limited.