10 - Nanotechnology and the renewable energy–water–environment nexus

Abstract

The security in energy, water, and the environment has been closely interwoven with human, economic, and environmental sustainability networks. The renewable energy–water–environment (REWE) nexus represents the critical and mutual relationship among renewable energy (RE) production, water, and the environment. Energy is needed for producing, distributing, and recycling water, while water is utilized for energy harvesting. Concurrently, the treatment and removal of pollutants strictly require energy and water consumption. To address the increased global demand for energy, clean water, and a sustainable environment, nanotechnology has emerged as an up-and-coming solution. High efficient technologies based on nanomaterial applications have shown remarkable progress in enhancing RE production, water purification, and environmental protection. Therefore, this chapter is devoted to comprehensively discussing the recent advances in nanotechnology for supporting and improving the REWE nexus. The utilization of nanotechnology within the nexus includes energy generation, water desalination, soil remediation, and air quality improvement which were briefly discussed. In addition, emerging challenges of nanotechnology applications in these fields are addressed, and the outlook for future development is elaborated.