Sustainable Water-Energy Nexus towards Developing Countries’ Water Sector Efficiency
Water management and energy recovery can improve a system’s sustainability and efficiency in a cost-effective solution. This research assesses the renewable energy sources used in the water sector, as well as the related water sector performance indicators within Portuguese water management systems....
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/12/3525 |
| _version_ | 1797530275463299072 |
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| author | Helena M. Ramos Jorge G. Morillo Juan A. Rodríguez Diaz Armando Carravetta Aonghus McNabola |
| author_facet | Helena M. Ramos Jorge G. Morillo Juan A. Rodríguez Diaz Armando Carravetta Aonghus McNabola |
| author_sort | Helena M. Ramos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water management and energy recovery can improve a system’s sustainability and efficiency in a cost-effective solution. This research assesses the renewable energy sources used in the water sector, as well as the related water sector performance indicators within Portuguese water management systems. A deep analysis of 432 water entities in Portugal, based on ERSAR data base, was conducted in order to identify factors to be improved regarding the system efficiency. On the other hand, the potential energy recovery developed in the REDAWN project was also used as a reference for the application of micro hydropower (MHP) solutions in the water sector. A water and energy nexus model was then developed to improve the systems efficiency and sustainability. A real case study in Africa, the Nampula water supply system, located in Mozambique, was selected as a promising potential for energy recovery. The application of a pump-as-turbine (PAT) allows the reduction in system costs and environmental impacts while increasing its efficiency. The proposed MHP has a capacity to generate ~23 MWh/year, providing significant savings. The developed economic analysis indicates the project is profitable, with an IRR ~40% depending on the energy selling price. This project can avoid the emission of more than 12 tCO<sub>2</sub> to the atmosphere, and it can help to reduce the system’s real losses by more than 10,000 m<sup>3</sup>/year. Consequently, it creates a total economic benefit of 7604 EUR/year. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:26:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cfc1fa45c5264a1fa9bd752d4869c695 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:26:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-cfc1fa45c5264a1fa9bd752d4869c6952023-11-21T23:59:29ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-06-011412352510.3390/en14123525Sustainable Water-Energy Nexus towards Developing Countries’ Water Sector EfficiencyHelena M. Ramos0Jorge G. Morillo1Juan A. Rodríguez Diaz2Armando Carravetta3Aonghus McNabola4Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources, CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Agronomy, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, SpainDepartment of Agronomy, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, SpainDepartment of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering (DICEA), University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandWater management and energy recovery can improve a system’s sustainability and efficiency in a cost-effective solution. This research assesses the renewable energy sources used in the water sector, as well as the related water sector performance indicators within Portuguese water management systems. A deep analysis of 432 water entities in Portugal, based on ERSAR data base, was conducted in order to identify factors to be improved regarding the system efficiency. On the other hand, the potential energy recovery developed in the REDAWN project was also used as a reference for the application of micro hydropower (MHP) solutions in the water sector. A water and energy nexus model was then developed to improve the systems efficiency and sustainability. A real case study in Africa, the Nampula water supply system, located in Mozambique, was selected as a promising potential for energy recovery. The application of a pump-as-turbine (PAT) allows the reduction in system costs and environmental impacts while increasing its efficiency. The proposed MHP has a capacity to generate ~23 MWh/year, providing significant savings. The developed economic analysis indicates the project is profitable, with an IRR ~40% depending on the energy selling price. This project can avoid the emission of more than 12 tCO<sub>2</sub> to the atmosphere, and it can help to reduce the system’s real losses by more than 10,000 m<sup>3</sup>/year. Consequently, it creates a total economic benefit of 7604 EUR/year.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/12/3525water-energy nexusRESperformance indicatorswater supply system (WSS)developing countriesenergy recovery |
| spellingShingle | Helena M. Ramos Jorge G. Morillo Juan A. Rodríguez Diaz Armando Carravetta Aonghus McNabola Sustainable Water-Energy Nexus towards Developing Countries’ Water Sector Efficiency Energies water-energy nexus RES performance indicators water supply system (WSS) developing countries energy recovery |
| title | Sustainable Water-Energy Nexus towards Developing Countries’ Water Sector Efficiency |
| title_full | Sustainable Water-Energy Nexus towards Developing Countries’ Water Sector Efficiency |
| title_fullStr | Sustainable Water-Energy Nexus towards Developing Countries’ Water Sector Efficiency |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustainable Water-Energy Nexus towards Developing Countries’ Water Sector Efficiency |
| title_short | Sustainable Water-Energy Nexus towards Developing Countries’ Water Sector Efficiency |
| title_sort | sustainable water energy nexus towards developing countries water sector efficiency |
| topic | water-energy nexus RES performance indicators water supply system (WSS) developing countries energy recovery |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/12/3525 |
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