Abstract
The widening gap between consumption and availability of water poses a serious threat to a sustainable socioeconomic development of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries and calls for an even larger augmentation of water supply using seawater desalination. However, these plants are affected by high specific energy consumption, while the uncertainty about fossil fuel prices in the future represents a severe problem. Within this study long-term scenarios for water and electricity demand based on potential assessment of renewable energies have been developed. The results provide baseline information for decision makers for the establishment of a favourable framework for the deployment of concentrated solar power and desalination plants. Finally, this paper points out the importance to start a paradigm change in water and electricity supply as soon as possible, in order to meet the requirements for low cost water and electricity and to avoid conflicts related to water scarcity.
Highlights
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the combination of dry climatic conditions, increasing water demand due to population and economic growth, as well as dated water supply systems often result in water scarcity
All these options are related to costs and are limited by their own potential and by other limitations
If the mentioned measures are not sufficient to satisfy the water demand, non-conventional water sources like seawater desalination are used. Such plants already exist in the MENA countries: the region leads the world in the use of desalinated water
Summary
In the MENA region, the combination of dry climatic conditions, increasing water demand due to population and economic growth, as well as dated water supply systems often result in water scarcity. Among them count the increase of efficiency in irrigation (drip systems, precision sprinklers) and in municipal water distribution, use of water non-intensive crops, water re-use and creation of reservoir basins All these options are related to costs and are limited by their own potential and by other limitations (e.g. time required for the realization of these measures, maximum growth rates of efficiency improvements and renewable energy technologies, political issues related to partial replacement of irrigation water by “virtual water”, i.e. food import). If the mentioned measures are not sufficient to satisfy the water demand, non-conventional water sources like seawater desalination are used. Such plants already exist in the MENA countries: the region leads the world in the use of desalinated water (over 60% of the world desalination capacity). New desalination capacities should be built only if environmental impacts are minimized
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