Climate & Environment
Water-Energy Nexus
Definition
The water-energy nexus describes the reciprocal dependencies between the two sectors: energy production requires water for cooling, fuel extraction and hydropower, while water supply and wastewater treatment consume energy for pumping, treatment and distribution. Managing one resource therefore directly affects the other.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Water-Energy Nexus” is defined and used.
Source imported for editorial provenance.
Overview
How it is used
Planners use nexus analysis to avoid policies that solve one problem while worsening another — for example, water-intensive carbon capture or energy-intensive desalination; the IEA quantifies energy-sector water demand; utilities co-optimise water and energy efficiency.
Why it matters
Climate change stresses both systems simultaneously. Nexus thinking prevents siloed decisions and identifies co-benefits, such as renewable energy pathways that cut both emissions and water demand.