Energy for Water in Agriculture

About the Project The project’s objective is to understand how and why the energy required to meet water demand differs between countries. To explore this question, energy used for the extraction, treatment, and transport of water is decomposed. The decomposition offers an empirical base through which to examine how energy is used in the water cycle in countries. Building on this empirical base, the project explores the controllable and less controllable factors that lead to differences in energy use for water provision. Particular consideration is given to the effects of industrial structure, pollution, water scarcity and pricing strategies on energy and water use. In line with KAPSARC’s overall objectives, the project seeks to provide insights into how current policies influence the energy used for water withdrawals, and where improvements might be made. By exploring case studies from around the globe, the project highlights how successful practices in water and energy management from one country might be transferred to others. The workshop series provides a space for dialogue on key issues, feedback on KAPSARC's study program, and options for future research.Key PointsManaging the closely interlinked water-energy-food nexus requires a holistic approach, as inefficient use of any of the three resources can have a negative effect on the other two. In countries with high rainfall, policy makers rarely need to worry about the nexus. But elsewhere, the effects are felt throughout the economy.There is significant variance in the productivity of water for agriculture, and the energy required to extract that water, across countries. The most productive countries are typically those where the agriculture sectors rely on rainfall and surface water. Groundwater well depth, pump efficiency and the prevalence of desalination can affect the energy required to meet water demand for agriculture.Given uncontrollable factors like water scarcity, there may be limits to how much certain countries can improve their productivity of water for agriculture. The results of our study highlight the opportunity cost for some countries of engaging in certain types of domestic food production, and suggest efficiency gains could be achieved through crop switching and/or importing water intensive crops.

关于项目
本项目的宗旨在于探究各国在满足用水需求时，所需能源消耗的差异及其成因。为解答此问题，项目将用于提取、处理和输送水资源的能源消耗进行分解，从而为研究各国水循环中能源利用情况提供实证基础。在此基础上，项目进一步探讨了导致水资源提供能源消耗差异的可控与不可控因素，特别关注产业结构、污染、水资源稀缺与定价策略对能源与水资源利用的影响。与KAPSARC的整体目标相一致，项目旨在揭示现行政策对水资源提取能源消耗的影响，并提出可能的改进方向。通过全球范围内的案例研究，项目强调成功的水和能源管理实践如何从一个国家转移到另一个国家。
研讨会系列为关键议题的对话、对KAPSARC研究计划的反馈以及未来研究的选项提供了一个平台。
关键点
管理紧密相连的水-能-食物三元紧密联系体需要一种全面的方法，因为三种资源中任何一种的低效利用都可能对其他两种产生负面影响。在降雨量高的国家，政策制定者很少需要担心这一联系体。但在其他地区，其影响遍及整个经济。各国在农业用水生产率以及提取该用水所需的能源方面存在显著差异。通常，生产率最高的国家是那些农业部门依赖降雨和地表水的国家。地下水井深度、水泵效率和淡化技术的普遍性都可能影响满足农业用水需求所需的能源。鉴于水资源稀缺等不可控因素，某些国家在提高农业用水生产率方面可能存在局限性。我们的研究结果突显了某些国家参与特定类型国内食品生产的机遇成本，并建议通过作物转换和/或进口耗水量大的作物来实现效率提升。