Energy Recovery and Clean Water: Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment

Dear Colleagues,

A considerable amount of energy is exploited to harness, treat, and distribute the water used for drinking, agricultural and industrial purposes. While the water industry uses energy to treat water and recycle wastewater to make it clean and safe for consumption, water utilities require energy to distribute safe water through its distribution systems. The scale of energy consumption in the water sector also varies from large-scale water recycling and bottling plants to electricity- or diesel-operated groundwater extraction machines owned by smallholders. All sectors of water at present are focusing on reducing the consumption of fossil fuels to minimize CO2 emissions and combat the negative effects of climate change. The optimum utilization of water and the efficient use of energy driven by technologies and policies with the objective of energy recovery has become the key to enhancing the sustainability of water systems and practices. The interdependence between water and energy systems is of great relevance due to the alarming occurrence of water shortages and the need for a fossil fuel phase-out in many parts of the world. However, energy recovery has tradeoffs both in terms of technology cost and diffusion, and the economic efficiency of water systems and its environmental impacts. In other words, the assessment of energy recovery plans and technological systems needs to take into account techno-economic and environmental impact assessments to minimize tradeoffs and maximize benefits. Thus, the complex interconnectedness of water and energy needs be holistically investigated from the novel perspective of smart systems and the energy transition, aiming to ensure their sustainable use.

This Special Issue, entitled “Energy Recovery and Clean Water: Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment” aims to explore and assess new technological systems and implementational models that can aid policy makers and planners in developing ‘energy smart’, ‘climate smart’ and ‘water smart’ systems for a resilient and sustainable clean water future. What are the emerging technologies that aim for energy recovery when taking into consideration economic feasibility and environmental protection? What are the governance challenges present when linking efficient and sustainable water and energy systems? How do we generate affordable and safe water with optimum energy management strategies under when considering climate change and socioeconomic development? How can energy use in water supply and treatment be integrated into water–carbon footprint studies? Case studies addressing a variety of new innovative technologies for water and energy nexus issues are also welcome. We are pleased to invite contributions that will generate new knowledge, groundbreaking solutions, appealing technological applications, and innovative governance models that will aid in energy recovery in the water sector.

Below is a list of indicative, but not exhaustive, topics for this Special Issue:

• Energy use and recovery in water collection, treatment, and distribution;
• Interconnected water and energy systems;
• Climate change and energy transitions in water sector;
• Water technologies for efficient, resilient, and sustainable solutions;
• Innovative water management and water governance;
• Social and stakeholder involvement in water-energy management;
• Water–energy–ecology nexus;
• Hydropower and renewable energies;
• Low-carbon water technology;
• Smart water and energy grids modelling and optimisation;
• Water and energy demand characterisation and forecasting;
• Optimal design and management of water distribution systems;
• Digital implementation and AI tools linking water–energy sector;
• Resilience and interdependencies between water and energy infrastructures;
• Irrigation and energy demand;
• Solar-powered irrigation systems;
• GIS and RS in groundwater quality mapping.

Dr. Navneet Kumar
Dr. Bernhard Tischbein
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• water–energy nexus
• energy policy
• water governance
• water quality
• groundwater and matter flow modelling
• groundwater irrigation
• solar powered pumps
• wastewater treatment
• water–energy–food nexus
• water distribution systems
• GIS and remote sensing
• artificial intelligence
• climate change