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A new methodology, called HY4RES models, includes hybrid energy solutions (HESs) based on the availability of renewable sources, for 24 h of water allocation, using WaterGEMS 10.0 and PVGIS 5.2 as auxiliary calculations. The optimization design was achieved using Solver, with GRG nonlinear/evolutionary programming, and Python, with the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The study involves the implementation of complex multi-objective and multi-variable algorithms with different renewable sources, such as PV solar energy, pumped hydropower storage (PHS) energy, wind energy, grid connection energy, or battery energy, and also sensitivity analyses and comparisons of optimization models. Higher water allocations relied heavily on grid energy, especially at night when solar power was unavailable. For a case study of irrigation water needs of 800 and 1000 m3/ha, the grid is not needed, but for 3000 and 6000 m3/ha, grid energy rises significantly, reaching 5 and 14 GWh annually, respectively. When wind energy is also integrated, at night, it allows for reducing grid energy use by 60% for 3000 m3/ha of water allocation, yielding a positive lifetime cashflow (EUR 284,781). If the grid is replaced by batteries, it results in a lack of a robust backup and struggles to meet high water and energy needs. Economically, PV + wind + PHS + grid energy is the most attractive solution, reducing the dependence on auxiliary sources and benefiting from sales to the grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities' impact on water, energy, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is increasing as the world becomes more urbanized. Focusing on Sejong City, which was developed as a new administrative hub in South Korea in 2012, this study scrutinizes its development path from water–energy nexus perspective by developing a system dynamics model that describes the interactions among numerous components related to water and water-related energy consumptions. Furthermore, this study reimagines the city's potential development trajectories by constructing nine policy scenarios that combine different degrees of water conservation ambitions with different amounts of decarbonization in the power sector. The results confirmed the potential of water conservation policies. The expansion of rainwater use has the potential to cut water use by 50% from the 2050 baseline levels. Although the use of harvested rainwater is negligible compared to wastewater reuse, its overall effect on water conservation would be substantial if it is increased. The maximum reduction in GHG emissions from the water sector would be 9.36% from the 2050 baseline scenario when combined with decarbonizing the power sector. Although this study does not fully account for the water conservation potential, including the efforts at the end-use stages, the possibility of carbon neutrality in Sejong's water sector by 2050 is presented. It affirms that local governments can significantly reduce cities' environmental footprints and complement national efforts for the transition to a carbon-neutral society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the advancement of Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling in addressing the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus. As such, it introduces water resources as a production factor for both the energy sector and irrigated agriculture, as well as their competition for the endowment, aiming to explicitly represent additional components of the WEF with respect to a standard CGE in the literature. Thus, it develops different modelling structures by computing impacts on regional GDP, sectorial prices, and production outputs in response to hypothetical water scarcity scenarios. This analysis allows for the determination of the role of data and modelling assumptions, such as production function, water substitutability with other endowments, water mobility across sectors, and sectorial water intensity, in influencing the results. Finally, the paper develops a dynamic scenario analysis, showing that an enhanced representation of the Nexus can significantly affect the macroeconomic dynamics of the simulations and their regional implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small biomass piece, huge power—a fulcrum to lift two global lifelines, where water and energy meet. Initiative of new-to-nature electron–ion nexus and inter-functional synergy showcased sustainable integration between over-limit solar-evaporative desalination, even in backlit environments, and robust long-term all-day clean electricity co-generation. Sparks were created when intersecting with engineering. [Display omitted] The water–energy nexus has garnered worldwide interest. Current dual-functional research aimed at co-producing freshwater and electricity faces significant challenges, including sub-optimal capacities ("1 + 1 < 2"), poor inter-functional coordination, high carbon footprints, and large costs. Mainstream water-to-electricity conversions are often compromised owing to functionality separation and erratic gradients. Herein, we present a sustainable strategy based on renewable biomass that addresses these issues by jointly achieving competitive solar-evaporative desalination and robust clean electricity generation. Using hydrothermally activated basswood, our solar desalination exceeded the 100% efficiency bottleneck even under reduced solar illumination. Through simple size-tuning, we achieved a high evaporation rate of 3.56 kg h−1 m−2 and an efficiency of 149.1%, representing 128%–251% of recent values without sophisticated surface engineering. By incorporating an electron–ion nexus with interfacial Faradaic electron circulation and co-ion-predominated micro-tunnel hydrodynamic flow, we leveraged free energy from evaporation to generate long-term electricity (0.38 W m−3 for over 14 d), approximately 322% of peer performance levels. This inter-functional nexus strengthened dual functionalities and validated general engineering practices. Our presented strategy holds significant promise for global human–society–environment sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical BiVO 4 /Ti 3 C 2 microcapsules report enhanced solar-driven water evaporation and photothermal-catalytic H 2 evolution activity. The flexible aerogel endows efficient evaporation rates (2.01 kg m−2 h−1) under 1kW m−2 solar irradiation, and the complementary heterostructures present photocatalytic H 2 production evolved after 4 h of reaction is 9.39 μmol. [Display omitted] Desalination processes frequently require a lot of energy to generate freshwater and energy, which depletes resources. Their reliance on each other creates tension between these two vital resources. Herein, hierarchical MXene nanosheets and bismuth vanadate (Ti 3 C 2 /BiVO 4)-derived microcapsules were synthesized for a photothermal-induced photoredox reaction for twofold applications, namely, solar-driven water evaporation and hydrogen (H 2) production. For this purpose, flexible aerogels were fabricated by introducing Ti 3 C 2 /BiVO 4 microcapsules in the polymeric network of natural rubber latex (NRL-Ti 3 C 2 /BiVO 4), and a high evaporation rate of 2.01 kg m−2 h−1 was achieved under 1-kW m−2 solar intensity. The excellent performance is attributed to the presence of Ti 3 C 2 /BiVO 4 microcapsules in the polymeric network, which provides balanced hydrophilicity and broadband sun absorption (96 %) and is aimed at plasmonic heating with microscale thermal confinement tailored by heat transfer simulations. Notably, localized plasmonic heating at the catalyst active sites of the Ti 3 C 2 /BiVO 4 heterostructure promotes enhanced photocatalytic H 2 production evolved after 4 h of reaction is 9.39 μmol, which is highly efficient than pure BiVO 4 and Ti 3 C 2. This method turns the issue of water–fuel crisis into a collaborative connection, presenting avenues to collectively address the anticipated demand rather than fostering competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter‐basin water transfer projects (WTPs) address water scarcity by lifting water uphill, posing energy challenges due to diverse topography. This study therefore analyses historical trends in WTP distance, average annual water volumes delivered, water lift and pumping capacity to develop the Water Transfer Energy Efficiency Index (WTEEI) and apply it for the assessment of WTPs. Results indicate that the WTEEI is a valuable tool for evaluating WTP energy efficiency. While no definitive trend in WTEEI values was observed, the findings suggest the need for monitoring of energy use of WTPs and more research to better understand and improve the energy efficiency of these large‐scale infrastructure projects. By introducing a simple, intuitive and rapid assessment tool for evaluating energy efficiency in WTPs, this study addresses a critical gap in the water–energy field, namely, the evaluation of energy usage in WTPs and the identification of energy‐efficiency improvements for current and future WTPs. Highlights: This study introduces the Water Transfer Energy Efficiency Index (WTEEI) for water transfer projects (WTPs).It applies the WTEEI to quantify the energy efficiency of WTPs globally.It analyses WTP characteristics (distance, volume delivered, height of water lift and pumping capacity).The study addresses a critical gap by providing a method for evaluating energy usage in WTPs and offering energy‐efficiency improvements for current and future WTPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of climate change, it becomes crucial to motivate action and policies within water companies towards achieving carbon neutrality. Estimating the economic consequences of inaction can be a compelling catalyst for change. In this study, the carbon inefficiency and overuse of energy among a selection of English and Welsh water companies were assessed, along with their impact on the operational costs of producing and delivering drinking water over the period from 2010 to 2019. In doing so, a stochastic frontier analysis primal system was employed. The findings revealed that, on average, water companies exhibited a carbon inefficiency of 0.699. The overuse of energy relative to other inputs was estimated to be 71.4%. Consequently, water companies incurred a production cost increase of 0.089 £/m3. This research demonstrates that transitioning towards a low‐carbon urban water cycle is not merely an environmental beneficial endeavor; it also involves significant economic advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lebanon's economic crisis has disrupted the country's energy and water sectors, highlighting their interdependence. The methodology involves surveying 150 municipalities across all Lebanese governorates, ensuring a comprehensive coverage of public and private water resources. Data on water and energy were collected before and during the crisis to explore this nexus during periods of economic turmoil. The findings reveal a decline in water provision during the crisis, with the average weekly water supply plummeting from 49 h in 2019 to 22 h in 2023. Concurrently, the use of water tankers has surged from 26 to 44%, indicating a concerning shift in water acquisition methods. Despite the crisis, conventional water sources remain predominant, while unconventional sources account for less than 1% of the total supply. In response to the energy shortage, renewable energy sources have gained traction in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The scarcity and rising cost of electricity have driven the adoption of solar photovoltaics in the water sector, reaching 4.8% for extraction from underground reservoirs and 2.8% for distribution. Similarly, the use of solar water heaters has increased from 7.9 to 15.4% in 2023. These findings underscore the interplay between energy and water security during periods of economic instability. HIGHLIGHTS Currency devaluation exposes vulnerability in the water–energy nexus.; Significant decrease in water availability during the economic downturn with household access dropping from 49 to 22 h per week.; A notable shift in water acquisition methods with 44% of the population relying on water tankers.; Emerging adoption of solar photovoltaic technology in the water sector.;

Energy transitions are reshaping hydrosocial relations. How they will be reshaped, however, depends on location and water's material relationship to other resources and industrial activities embedded within energy transitions. To highlight this, we focus on three different resources—coal, natural gas, and lithium—to signal how the water–energy nexus will be reworked in a transition away from fossil fuels. We examine the water–coal nexus as an example of a resource relationship that is transitioning out, or that is being moved away from in the green energy transition. Natural gas represents the “bridge fuel” used through the transition. Lithium illustrates a resource inside the green transition, as it is a fundamental material for green technologies in the transition to a low‐carbon future. Coal, natural gas, and lithium each have their own material impacts to water resources that stem from their industrial lifecycle and different implications for communities shaped by coal, natural gas, and lithium activities. To explore this, we review each of these resources' connection to water, their legal and regulatory dimensions, and their impact on communities and water justice. We argue that the energy transition is also a hydrosocial transition that will create uneven water‐related benefits and burdens. To maximize sustainability and equity, efforts to decarbonize energy systems must examine the localized, place‐based hydrosocial relations that differentially affect communities.This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Planning Water Human Water > Water Governance Human Water > Rights to Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable potable water is essential for sustaining livelihoods and promoting human well-being, yet many rural communities in South Africa have disrupted and inadequate access. This has been exacerbated by the energy crisis that led to frequent load-shedding. As a water-scarce country, the South African government considers sustainable management of resources as critical to sustaining lives and livelihoods. The lengthy load-shedding schedules prompted the need to investigate how they disrupt scheduled water delivery services using the case of Mohlaba-Cross Village in Limpopo Province. This study investigated the challenges load-shedding poses for water access in already water-deprived communities. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and review of documents. Results indicate that load-shedding significantly disrupts scheduled water delivery services, hence daily household chores, livelihoods, local businesses, and economic activities. Some community members resorted to buying water from private vendors, which is unsustainable, especially for low-income households and small businesses. Despite understanding the limitations caused by load-shedding, proactive measures were hindered by a lack of communication and collaboration among key stakeholders. Low pumping capacity and a lack of adaptability in water management posed additional limitations. The study underscores the importance of supply-side interventions by water authorities, such as investing in alternative energy sources and improving pumping capacity to address the interconnected energy and water security challenges. Managing the demand side through promoting water conservation and embracing adaptive management strategies requires effective collaboration by all stakeholders. However, this requires the water authorities to initiate the process. Our study contributes to understanding the energy-water nexus in rural communities and the need for stakeholder engagement to address emerging challenges. It provides insights for policymakers, water managers, businesses, and communities to foster sustainable water management practices and improve the well-being of all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the place of technological interventions in the conceptualisation of the Water–Energy–Food Nexus (WEF Nexus). The focus is on the just infrastructure interventions required to decarbonise and adapt to the challenges of the climate crisis for sustainable livelihoods. We explore the overlap between two bodies of work, the WEF Nexus and Socio-Technical Systems, grown from different disciplinary perspectives, to scrutinise the extent to which there is a coherent synthesis of work that can examine infrastructure impacts and trade-offs in a WEF system. Following a systematic literature review and analysis, a framework is proposed for water and energy infrastructure interventions to both support sustainable development and recognise infrastructure's role in a just and equitable society. This framework will support the creation of models that are less likely to miss vital components of a system or potential trade-offs and supports a multi-disciplinary approach to infrastructure interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the dynamics of complex systems requires developing and combining different kinds of models that can be simulated separately and together. Modeling the interactions as separate models contributes to building flexible hybrid simulation frameworks. In this research, a Discrete Event System Specification–based Interaction Model (DEVS-IM) framework is developed based on the Knowledge Interchange Broker (KIB) approach. This KIB-based RESTful modeling composition framework is shown to enable systematic modeling and simulation of interactions between disparate simulatable models. It supports storing IMs developed for componentized Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) and Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) tools. It generates the skeleton of DEVS-IMs stored in database for DEVS-Suite simulator. An exemplar model consisting of water, energy, and IMs demonstrates this methodology for developing nexus models of water–energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water desalination systems integrated with stand-alone hybrid energy sources offer a remarkable solution to the water–energy challenge. Given the complexity of these systems, selecting an appropriate energy management system is crucial. In this regard, employing artificial intelligence techniques to develop and validate an energy management system can be an effective approach for handling such intricate systems. Therefore, this paper presents an ANN-based energy management system (ANNEMS) for a pumping and desalination system connected to an isolated hybrid renewable energy source. Thus, a parametric sensitivity algorithm was developed to identify the optimal neural network architecture. The water–energy management-based supervised multi-layer perceptron neural network demonstrated effective power sharing within a short time frame, achieving accuracy criteria of RMSE, R, and R² between the actual and estimated electrical power of the three motor pumps. The ANNEMS is defined to facilitate real-time power sharing distribution among the various system motor pumps on the test bench, considering the generated power profile and water tank levels. The proposed strategy employs power field oriented control to maintain DC bus voltage stability. Experimental results from the implementation of the proposed ANNEMS are provided. Therein, the power levels of the three motor pumps demonstrated consistent adherence to their reference values. In summary, this study highlights the significance of selecting appropriate energy management for real-time experimental validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The agri-food sector has been identified as one of the most significant contributors to environmental degradation and emissions. Thus, in order to respond to the societal demand for cleaner and greener products, in recent years, the food industry has been striving to identify and apply more sustainable practices to minimize the negative impact on the environment. Within the agri-food sector, one of the industries requiring efforts to mitigate its environmental footprint is the tomato processing industry, which represents an important industry within the Italian industrial food processing sector. Efficient utilization of resources and adoption of innovative methods in the production lines of the tomato processing industry can be envisaged as strategic measures to increase sustainability. This study aims to discuss the results of the case study in which an Italian tomato processing company has been analyzed by applying the LCA methodology. Method: Foreground data were obtained from the tomato processing facility located in southern Italy, and Ecoinvent database was the source of background data. The assessment was carried out by SimaPro software using ReCiPe 2016 (V1.03). The feasible conservation strategies in the production line have been evaluated through water-energy nexus simulation by SuperPro Designer® before the implementation, and different scenarios have been evaluated by SimaPro to decrease the environmental load. Results and conclusion: This study demonstrates that the production of 1  kg of peeled tomatoes and tomato puree leads to greenhouse gas emissions of 0.083  kg CO2 eq and 0.135  kg CO2 eq, respectively. A deeper analysis to evaluate the contribution of the different tomato processing stages indicated that the thermal units are the main ones responsible for adverse effects on the environment, and any improvement in their performance can be seen as an unmissable opportunity. The conservation strategies identified resulted in considerable water (23.4%), electricity (14.7%), and methane (28.7%) savings and, consequently, in 16 and 19% reduction of global warming potential in peeled tomato and tomato puree production lines, respectively. These findings provide new insights for tomato processing companies wishing to adopt more sustainable processing practices, reducing their environmental impact to a considerable extent and improving their economic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolated water and energy microgrids (IWEMGs) serve as vital solutions for enhancing the well-being of remote and rural communities, particularly in areas where water and energy resources are scarce. This has spurred research into the interdependence between the water and energy sectors (water–energy nexus), a field that has grown in response to technological advancements. Through a systematic optimization framework, this review critically evaluates the integration of various technologies within IWEMGs, encompassing infrastructure, management, and strategic planning, while considering economic and social impacts. IWEMGs incorporate diverse technologies for the infrastructure, management, and strategic planning of water and energy resources, integrating economic and social considerations to inform decisions that affect both immediate and long-term sustainability and reliability. This article presents an exhaustive review of the literature on IWEMG management, employing an approach that synthesizes existing studies to enhance the understanding of strategic IWEMG management and planning. It introduces a structured taxonomy for organizing research trends and tackling unresolved challenges within the field. Notably, the review identifies critical gaps, such as the lack of comprehensive data on water demand in isolated locations, and underscores the emerging role of game theory and machine learning in enriching IWEMG management frameworks. Ultimately, this review outlines essential indicators for forthcoming research, focusing on the optimization, management, and strategic planning of IWEMG resources and infrastructure, thereby setting a direction for future technological and methodological advancements in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change severely affects urban water systems (UWSs). Infrastructure historically designed for milder conditions cannot manage growing water demands and extreme events. To obtain a resilient water sector, adaptation and mitigation strategies must address rising water challenges while striving for net-zero emissions. Researchers have noted that extreme decentralization is positively associated with closing cycles while reducing transport costs. However, part of the scientific community defends centralized schemes due to economies of scale. The objective of this systematic review is to understand the trade-offs associated with the adoption of different scales at UWSs design and how this impacts system resilience. This process includes identifying different scale trade-offs and unique environmental aspects that influence the optimal scale suitability. A clear distinction was made in terms of scale concept and classification, considering different design levels. That is, considering the UWS at the city level and water management units (WMUs) at the local level. Similarly, a classification of different scales for each level, covering all water streams—supply, wastewater, and stormwater—was introduced. We defined the key environmental aspects that influence the optimal scale and location suitability: ten at the city-catchment level and eleven at the site-neighbourhood level. Scale impacts three major UWSs functionalities that have repercussions on urban resilience: net energy, net water, and ecosystem services (ES). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acute water and electricity shortages in Gaza necessitate comprehensive solutions that recognize the interconnected nature of these vital resources. This article presents pragmatic solutions to align supply with fundamental needs in both domains, offering viable pathways for achieving strategic water‐energy security in Gaza. Baseline data reveals a deficit in the current water supply, falling below the international minimum of 100 L per capita per day, while the reported 137–189 MW per day electricity supply significantly lags behind the estimated 390 MW per day peak demand. To meet projected 2024 residential, commercial, and industrial demands, this study proposes actionable measures including expanding wastewater treatment to enable over 150 MCM per year tertiary effluents for agricultural reuse and adopting energy‐efficient forward osmosis‐reverse osmosis and osmotically assisted reverse osmosis desalination methods to increase potable water supply to 150 MCM per year. Electricity supply strategies include scaling renewable capacity towards 110 MW per day, exploring regional cooperation to unlock over 360 MW of power per day, and potentially recovering up to 60 MW per day through system efficiencies. These recommendations aim to prevent exacerbated scarcity and alleviate hardships in Gaza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing attention is being given to reduce the specific energy consumption in desalination processes, which translates into greater use of exergy analysis. An exergetic analysis provides relevant information related to the influence of the efficiency of a single component in the global plant performance and in the exergy cost of the product. Therefore, an exergy analysis identifies the main improvement potentials in a productive thermodynamic process. Related to desalination technologies, many previous papers deal with the calculation of the parameters involved in the exergy analysis, the exergetic efficiency of different processes, plants, and technologies among them. However, different approaches for formulating the exergetic efficiency have been suggested in the literature, often without sufficient understanding and consistency. In this work, these formulations, applied to the main desalination components and processes, are compared and critically reviewed. Two definitions of exergy efficiency are applied to the desalination components of the three main thermal desalination processes (multieffect distillation–thermal vapour compression, multistage flash distillation, and direct-contact membrane distillation). The results obtained for the exergy efficiency of the MED-TVC, MSF, and DCMD processes for the input–output approach are 21.35%, 17.08%, and 1.28%, respectively, compared to the consumed–produced approach that presented 3.1%, 1.58%, and 0.37%, respectively. The consumed–produced approach seems to better fit the thermodynamic behaviour of thermal desalination systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Everyday activity incurs carbon footprints, which are classified as personal, production, organizational and national, and may be assessed by input–output analysis (IOA), life-cycle assessment (LCA), or the combination of LCA and IOA methods. Notwithstanding international standards, like ISO 14064 and Publicly Available Specification (PAS) released for standardization, carbon footprint results can vary and sometimes lack consistency that due to variations in data sources, crossover boundary definitions, and operational boundaries for indirect emissions. The novelty of this study is the direct utilization of condensed water in an existing cooling water system, without the need for prior wastewater treatment, as typically required for greywater. The lack of practical case studies exploring the water–energy nexus in the context of reclaiming condensed water for evaporative cooling tower systems makes this research particularly significant. This highlights that condensed water can be a straightforward and cost-effective solution for both water conservation and energy savings. This case study highlights the benefits of reclaiming condensed water as supplementary cooling water, which proved effective in water quality treatment and dilution augmentation, considering that a higher cycle of concentration (CoC) was achieved, leading to reduced bleed-off that resulted in a water saving of 44% for make-up and 80% for bleed-off water, and energy savings from 6.9% to 13.1% per degree Celsius of condensing refrigerant temperature (CRT). The analytical assessment revealed that reclaiming condensed water is a promising answer for green building and is a by-product of condensation without extra power demands, avoiding the generation of an increased carbon footprint and exacerbation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from freshwater resource extraction, and for the production of energy-efficient devices or substitutions. By eliminating the need for wastewater treatment, this research enhances the practicality and feasibility of direct use of condensed water in various applications. This approach not only promotes sustainability by conserving water and energy but also renews interest among proponents of green building practices. It has the potential to accelerate the adoption of this method and integrate it into green building designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As water and electrical networks cannot be entirely independent, a more integrated approach, the water–energy nexus (WEN), is developed. A WEN is the basis of a smart city where water and electrical networks are interconnected and integrated by implementing efficient management strategies. Accordingly, this study develops a dynamic co-optimization model for designing and operating an integrated power and water system. The proposed co-optimization model minimizes the total annual and operational costs of a micro-WEN system while capturing its optimum design values and operating conditions and meeting the demands of the electrical and water networks. Furthermore, this work presents a plan for transitioning from thermal desalination to reverse osmosis (RO) desalination in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The key objective is to decouple electricity and water production, effectively tackling the issue of operating the UAE's power plants at low efficiency during the winter while ensuring an adequate water supply to meet the growing demand. The results show that the co-optimization model provides a significant reduction in the total operational cost with the integration of photovoltaic energy and shifting to RO. Most importantly, the micro-WEN system is optimized over multiple timescales to reduce the computation effort and memory requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have positive and negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) can provide a more holistic framework for performance evaluation than the conventional approach. This study added water footprint (WF) to LCIA and defined ϕ index for accounting for the damage ratio of carbon footprint (CF) to WF. The application of these innovations was verified by comparing the performance of 26 WWTPs. These facilities are located in four different climates in Iran, serve between 1,900 and 980,000 people, and have treatment units like activated sludge, aerated lagoon, and stabilization pond. Here, grey water footprint (GWF) calculated the ecological impacts through typical pollutants. Blue water footprint (BWF) included the productive impacts of wastewater reuse, and CF estimated CO2 emissions from WWTPs. Results showed that GWF was the leading factor. ϕ was 4–7.5% and the average WF of WWTPs was 0.6 m3/ca, which reduced 84%, to 0.1 m³/ca, through wastewater reuse. Here, wastewater treatment and reuse in larger WWTPs, particularly with activated sludge had lower cumulative impacts. Since this method takes more items than the conventional approach, it is recommended for integrated evaluation of WWTPs, mainly in areas where the water–energy nexus is a paradigm for sustainable development. HIGHLIGHTS An integrated method was developed for comparing WWTPs' performance.; Grey and blue water footprints were added to LCIA as environmental indices.; Method applicability was verified by comparing 26 WWTPs.; Larger WWTPs with activated sludge comparatively had less environmental impacts.; Wastewater treatment and reuse reduced 92% of environmental damage.; A new index for water–energy nexus in WWTPs was introduced.;

In light of observed climate change dynamics, including intensified precipitation events, prolonged arid spells, and elevating sea and ocean levels, water supply infrastructures face escalating challenges. Some regions are facing significant damage, with failures in network components leading to losses of up to 30 %, while globally, can escalate to tens of millions of cubic meters of water. The spatial analysis of energy consumption in abstraction, transmission, and treatment processes per cubic meter of water carried out in this article highlights the impact of climate change on the choice of specific unit process methods. Consequently, clarifying the complex interaction between water and energy attempted in this work assumes paramount importance in ecological and economic water supply network planning.

Using pumps operating as turbines (PATs) offers the possibility of increasing the sustainability of water and energy systems by recovering the excess energy that would be otherwise lost in pressure-reducing valves or head loss chambers. Regarding on-grid applications, there have been many research works, and PATs have been implemented in several ways. However, more research still needs to be done on optimizing the efficiency and stability of PATs operating in off-grid systems. This work contributes to the development of stable direct current (DC) off-grid electric systems based on PATs using a self-excited induction generator (SEIG). In this context, a methodology is proposed, based on the hydraulic, mechanical, and electric subsystems, to define the PAT-SEIG operational area to maximize energy conversion and system efficiency. These limits depend highly on the capacitor value, rotational speed, and electric load. In addition, an analytical model is proposed to estimate the PAT-SEIG operation under specific conditions. With this, water managers can design and optimize an off-grid PAT-SEIG system and define the best hydraulic machines, electronic equipment, and control elements to maximize energy conversion within the target of operational limits. Two micro PAT-SEIG setups were implemented in the hydraulic laboratory of IST/CERIS under typical operating conditions to validate the proposed methodology. The system's maximum efficiency and operational limits can be adapted using different capacitor values for the excitation of the SEIG. Considering the nominal efficiencies of the system's components, the maximum p.u. efficiency obtained for each PAT-SEIG system was between 0.7 and 0.8 p.u. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to deepen knowledge about the existing connections, at the level of urban environments, between energy, water, and nutrients (or food). Energy and basic resources—water and food—are closely interconnected, which is why the water–energy–food nexus constitutes the essential integrated approach to ensuring the sustainable development of humanity. This nexus is also valid in urban environments and can be adapted for buildings, interconnecting, in this case, water, energy, and nutrients. This article is a literature review in this area, intending to highlight the strong connections between water, energy, and nutrients at the level of buildings, integrating the results obtained in different studies and showing the global importance of this nexus. The water–energy relationship in buildings is already well known in terms of the production of domestic hot water or building pumping, for example, but it turns out that it goes far beyond this interrelationship, also having implications for public networks. Regarding the water–nutrients nexus in urban environments, it can play an important role in terms of food security for humanity, especially regarding the possibility of recovering phosphorus in buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the optimal and safe operation of pumping stations in water distribution systems (WDSs) with the aim of reducing the environmental footprint of water conveyance processes. We introduced the nonlinear chaotic honey badger algorithm (NCHBA), a novel and robust optimization method. The proposed method utilizes chaotic maps to enhance exploration and convergence speed, incorporating a nonlinear control parameter to effectively balance local and global search dynamics. Single-objective optimization results on a WDS show that NCHBA outperforms other algorithms in solution accuracy and convergence speed. The application of the proposed approach on a water network with two variable-speed pumps demonstrated a significant 27% reduction in energy consumption. Expanding our focus to the multi-objective optimization of pump scheduling programs in large-scale water distribution systems (WDSs), we employ the non-dominated sorting nonlinear chaotic honey badger algorithm (MONCHBA). The findings reveal that the use of variable-speed pumps not only enhances energy efficiency but also bolsters WDS reliability compared to the use of single-speed pumps. The results showcase the potential and robustness of the proposed multi-objective NCHBA in achieving an optimal Pareto front that effectively balances energy consumption, pressure levels, and water quality risk, facilitating carbon footprint reduction and sustainable management of WDSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to analyze the applicability of a convex hyperbola chart's methodology to determine how many pumps should be working in a pumping station of a real case study to consume the least amount of energy. The applicability of the convex hyperbola charts is demonstrated, its effectiveness is shown, and a step-by-step exemplification is presented. Moreover, the order in which pumps should be activated is analyzed and discussed. The pumping station of the optimization is located in Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain; it consists of a pumping station of four (+1 reserved) hydraulic pumps that take water from a reservoir and distribute it through a branched pipeline. The geometric height difference Hg of the case study is variable. This article also shows how the variability of Hg plays a major role in the optimal configuration of the pumping station. This paper also proves how the number of pumps to activate or disactivate does not necessarily need to be consecutive, meaning that activating or disactivating pumps one by one may not be the best solution. The convex hyperbola charts show how there can be circumstances in which skipping a certain number of pumps is the best solution. How the pump efficiency is distributed along the commercial pump plays a major role in determining which is the best configuration of active pumps. A straightforward and inexpensive optimization methodology for the optimization of the energy in a water supply system was proved and exemplified. This simple methodology can be applied by engineers in the operation of a water supply system when pumping is required, e.g., in agricultural systems or in underdeveloped areas where energy expenses need to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of the dependencies between water and power systems is more acutely perceived when challenges emerge. As both energy and water supply are limited, efficient use is a must for any sustainable future, especially in rural areas. Although important, a modeling tool that can analyze water-energy systems interdependencies in rural systems, at the architectural level highlighting the physical interconnections and synergies of these systems, is still lacking. We present a multi-agent system model that captures the features of both systems, at the same levels of fidelity and resolution, with coordinated operations and contingency components represented. Unlike other models, ours captures architectural features of both systems and technical constraints of the systems’ components, which is critical to capture physical intricacies of the interplay between systems components and shed light on the impacts of disruptions of either system on the other. This model, which includes multiple infrastructure components, shows the importance of a holistic understanding of the systems, for cooperation across systems physical boundaries and enhanced benefits at larger scales. This study looks to investigate water-power resource management in an irrigation system via the analysis of physical links and highlight strengths and vulnerabilities. The effects of water shortage, water re-allocation and load shedding are analyzed through scenarios designed to illustrate the utility of such a model. Results highlights the importance of inter-reservoir relationships for alleviating effects of disruption and unforeseen rise in energy demand. Water storage is also critical, helping to mitigate the impacts of water scarcity, and by extension, to keep the energy system unaffected. It can be a viable part of the solution to compensate for the negative impact of shortage for both resources.

IntroductionThe agri-food sector has been identified as one of the most significant contributors to environmental degradation and emissions. Thus, in order to respond to the societal demand for cleaner and greener products, in recent years, the food industry has been striving to identify and apply more sustainable practices to minimize the negative impact on the environment. Within the agri-food sector, one of the industries requiring efforts to mitigate its environmental footprint is the tomato processing industry, which represents an important industry within the Italian industrial food processing sector. Efficient utilization of resources and adoption of innovative methods in the production lines of the tomato processing industry can be envisaged as strategic measures to increase sustainability. This study aims to discuss the results of the case study in which an Italian tomato processing company has been analyzed by applying the LCA methodology.MethodForeground data were obtained from the tomato processing facility located in southern Italy, and Ecoinvent database was the source of background data. The assessment was carried out by SimaPro software using ReCiPe 2016 (V1.03). The feasible conservation strategies in the production line have been evaluated through water-energy nexus simulation by SuperPro Designer® before the implementation, and different scenarios have been evaluated by SimaPro to decrease the environmental load.Results and conclusionThis study demonstrates that the production of 1 kg of peeled tomatoes and tomato puree leads to greenhouse gas emissions of 0.083 kg CO2 eq and 0.135 kg CO2 eq, respectively. A deeper analysis to evaluate the contribution of the different tomato processing stages indicated that the thermal units are the main ones responsible for adverse effects on the environment, and any improvement in their performance can be seen as an unmissable opportunity. The conservation strategies identified resulted in considerable water (23.4%), electricity (14.7%), and methane (28.7%) savings and, consequently, in 16 and 19% reduction of global warming potential in peeled tomato and tomato puree production lines, respectively. These findings provide new insights for tomato processing companies wishing to adopt more sustainable processing practices, reducing their environmental impact to a considerable extent and improving their economic performance.

Abstract The acute water and electricity shortages in Gaza necessitate comprehensive solutions that recognize the interconnected nature of these vital resources. This article presents pragmatic solutions to align supply with fundamental needs in both domains, offering viable pathways for achieving strategic water‐energy security in Gaza. Baseline data reveals a deficit in the current water supply, falling below the international minimum of 100 L per capita per day, while the reported 137–189 MW per day electricity supply significantly lags behind the estimated 390 MW per day peak demand. To meet projected 2024 residential, commercial, and industrial demands, this study proposes actionable measures including expanding wastewater treatment to enable over 150 MCM per year tertiary effluents for agricultural reuse and adopting energy‐efficient forward osmosis‐reverse osmosis and osmotically assisted reverse osmosis desalination methods to increase potable water supply to 150 MCM per year. Electricity supply strategies include scaling renewable capacity towards 110 MW per day, exploring regional cooperation to unlock over 360 MW of power per day, and potentially recovering up to 60 MW per day through system efficiencies. These recommendations aim to prevent exacerbated scarcity and alleviate hardships in Gaza.

The Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (JSDEWES) is an international journal dedicated to the improvement and dissemination of knowledge on methods, policies and technologies for increasing the sustainability of development by de-coupling growth from natural resources and replacing them with knowledge based economy, taking into account its economic, environmental and social pillars, as well as methods for assessing and measuring sustainability of development, regarding energy, transport, water, environment and food production systems and their many combinations. In total 48 manuscripts were published in Volume XI, all of them reviewed by at least two reviewers. The Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems would like to thank reviewers for their contribution to the quality of the published manuscripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of water supply systems for renewable electrical energy production is frequently utilised by a small-scale hydropower unit (SHPU) that utilises the surplus water or pressure. However, fluctuating demand on an hourly and daily basis represents a significant challenge in operating such devices. To address this issue, a control strategy based on demand forecast is implemented, adjusting the SHPU's inflow based on current demand conditions. Thus, individual days are categorised into control categories with similar flow conditions, and control is optimised for each category using a simplified evolutionary optimisation technique. Coupled with demand forecasts, the SHPU controller evaluates on a daily basis which set of water levels to utilise for the next day to optimise energy production. This approach is implemented in an alpine municipality, and its economic feasibility is evaluated through a long-term simulation over 10 years. This approach resulted in an annual profit increase compared to the reference status based on well-informed expert knowledge. However, it is worth noting that the approach has limited suitability for further improvements within the case study. Nonetheless, SHPUs also contribute to improving water quality and, if the electrical energy generated is directly used to operate the water supply, enhance resilience to grid failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leakages in water distribution systems (WDSs) profoundly affect their operations, elevating water production demand and treatment and pumping costs. Moreover, they strain the energy system by increasing power requirements at pumping stations. In regions heavily reliant on hydropower, such as Brazil, there is a nuanced implication: diminishing reservoir water levels due to increased WDS flow withdrawal. This not only immediately affects hydropower generation by reducing available head but, over time, may lead to interruptions in hydropower generation. This paper investigates the water–energy nexus, specifically focusing on WDS leakages in Brazil. It begins with an overview of the current situation and future outlook, considering evolving policies to enhance WDS efficiency and also the evaluation of different climate change scenarios. A more in-depth case study explores a reservoir utilized for both energy and water production. In this context, leakage management assumes critical importance, given the various water uses within the reservoir that impact the available energy and water resources. Overall, this study offers a comprehensive perspective on the water–energy nexus within WDSs, underscoring the critical importance of leakage control and its direct and indirect consequences, particularly on energy generation capacity, the environment, and the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to present a roadmap on which optimal solutions can be adopted for a sustainable water and energy management by focusing on the relationships among "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)", "Water‐Energy", "Innovation‐Technology" and "Capacity‐Generation" blocks. The findings reveal that technological innovations are the core of sustainable solutions. An optimal bundle for policy tools should take SDG3, SDG10, SDG11, SDG12, SDG16, CH4‐N2O emissions, access to clean fuels, wastewater treatment and COVID‐19 major drivers into account primarily to explain the water‐energy nexus. Among the five worst‐performing technologies are hydrogen, CCUS, fuel cells, energy efficiency and electromobility‐electric energy management. Considering the constructed four scenarios together; levelized cost of electricity, global horizontal irradiation and photovoltaic (PV) power output seasonality are the only significant PV potential indicators despite their low impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Dalian University of Technology / Dalian Ligong Daxue Xuebao is the property of Journal of Dalian University of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of World Water Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Reliable potable water is essential for sustaining livelihoods and promoting human well-being, yet many rural communities in South Africa have disrupted and inadequate access. This has been exacerbated by the energy crisis that led to frequent load-shedding. As a water-scarce country, the South African government considers sustainable management of resources as critical to sustaining lives and livelihoods. The lengthy load-shedding schedules prompted the need to investigate how they disrupt scheduled water delivery services using the case of Mohlaba-Cross Village in Limpopo Province. This study investigated the challenges load-shedding poses for water access in already water-deprived communities. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and review of documents. Results indicate that load-shedding significantly disrupts scheduled water delivery services, hence daily household chores, livelihoods, local businesses, and economic activities. Some community members resorted to buying water from private vendors, which is unsustainable, especially for low-income households and small businesses. Despite understanding the limitations caused by load-shedding, proactive measures were hindered by a lack of communication and collaboration among key stakeholders. Low pumping capacity and a lack of adaptability in water management posed additional limitations. The study underscores the importance of supply-side interventions by water authorities, such as investing in alternative energy sources and improving pumping capacity to address the interconnected energy and water security challenges. Managing the demand side through promoting water conservation and embracing adaptive management strategies requires effective collaboration by all stakeholders. However, this requires the water authorities to initiate the process. Our study contributes to understanding the energy-water nexus in rural communities and the need for stakeholder engagement to address emerging challenges. It provides insights for policymakers, water managers, businesses, and communities to foster sustainable water management practices and improve the well-being of all.

Isolated water and energy microgrids (IWEMGs) serve as vital solutions for enhancing the well-being of remote and rural communities, particularly in areas where water and energy resources are scarce. This has spurred research into the interdependence between the water and energy sectors (water–energy nexus), a field that has grown in response to technological advancements. Through a systematic optimization framework, this review critically evaluates the integration of various technologies within IWEMGs, encompassing infrastructure, management, and strategic planning, while considering economic and social impacts. IWEMGs incorporate diverse technologies for the infrastructure, management, and strategic planning of water and energy resources, integrating economic and social considerations to inform decisions that affect both immediate and long-term sustainability and reliability. This article presents an exhaustive review of the literature on IWEMG management, employing an approach that synthesizes existing studies to enhance the understanding of strategic IWEMG management and planning. It introduces a structured taxonomy for organizing research trends and tackling unresolved challenges within the field. Notably, the review identifies critical gaps, such as the lack of comprehensive data on water demand in isolated locations, and underscores the emerging role of game theory and machine learning in enriching IWEMG management frameworks. Ultimately, this review outlines essential indicators for forthcoming research, focusing on the optimization, management, and strategic planning of IWEMG resources and infrastructure, thereby setting a direction for future technological and methodological advancements in the field.

This paper presents a solution to convert the conventional water network into a smart water network (SWN). Scenarios are synthesized for water recycling inside buildings with less water consumed, minimizing the overall cost. Multiphysics modelling and simulation are conducted with Hysys and Ansys - Fluent in calculating the water flow quantity, pressure of the water network and velocity of water inside the pipe network. Four scenarios are synthesized and modelled for a selected mall building case study. These scenarios reduce the water consumption in the mall from 100% to 29.4%, with a cost-saving of more than 60%. HIGHLIGHTS Design of smart water network framework.; Synthesis and evaluation of smart water network design scenarios.; Modeling and simulation of water networks.;