Quantifying water-energy nexus for urban water systems: A case study of Addis Ababa city

Bedassa D. Kitessa; Semu M. Ayalew; Geremew S. Gebrie; Solomon T. Teferi; Bedassa D. Kitessa; Semu M. Ayalew; Geremew S. Gebrie; Solomon T. Teferi

doi:10.3934/environsci.2020031

AIMS Environmental Science

2020, Volume 7, Issue 6: 486-504. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2020031

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Research article

Quantifying water-energy nexus for urban water systems: A case study of Addis Ababa city

1.
Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 385, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
2.
University of Connecticut, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, USA

Received: 14 September 2020 Accepted: 06 November 2020 Published: 19 November 2020

The complex interdependency between water and energy poses new challenges for policymakers to achieve a safe, secure, and sustainable supply of water and energy in the future. The water-energy nexus can be typically characterized by efficient use of energy and water resources. Hence, this paper aims to explore quantitative results of the nexus in terms of energy intensity on existing water systems within urban water cycles. The energy requirement for water treatment and water conveying to the city (from Legadadi water treatment, Gefersa water treatment and wastewater treatment area) as well as the energy requirement for water distribution within the city were quantified. The energy intensity for groundwater extraction, water transmission and water distribution were computed using Energy Intensity method. This led to identify the best technologies to insure the security of water-energy nexus. The annual energy demand and energy intensity values for groundwater extraction were estimated to be 0.6 PJ and 1.2 kWh/m³ respectively. These values for operating all pumps in the water transmission were 0.13 PJ and 0.32 kWh/m³ respectively. Similarly, the energy intensity value for water distribution was 0.27 kWh/m³ and distributes water to residential, commercial and industrial end-users. Determining the energy intensity predicts the future energy demand in urban water system. In 2030 and 2050, the predicted energy demand will be 0.50 and 0.83 PJ respectively for water transmission whereas it will be 0.41 and 0.67 PJ for water distribution.
- urban water,
- energy demand,
- energy intensity,
- water supply,
- water-energy nexus
Citation: Bedassa D. Kitessa, Semu M. Ayalew, Geremew S. Gebrie, Solomon T. Teferi. Quantifying water-energy nexus for urban water systems: A case study of Addis Ababa city[J]. AIMS Environmental Science, 2020, 7(6): 486-504. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2020031

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Abstract

The complex interdependency between water and energy poses new challenges for policymakers to achieve a safe, secure, and sustainable supply of water and energy in the future. The water-energy nexus can be typically characterized by efficient use of energy and water resources. Hence, this paper aims to explore quantitative results of the nexus in terms of energy intensity on existing water systems within urban water cycles. The energy requirement for water treatment and water conveying to the city (from Legadadi water treatment, Gefersa water treatment and wastewater treatment area) as well as the energy requirement for water distribution within the city were quantified. The energy intensity for groundwater extraction, water transmission and water distribution were computed using Energy Intensity method. This led to identify the best technologies to insure the security of water-energy nexus. The annual energy demand and energy intensity values for groundwater extraction were estimated to be 0.6 PJ and 1.2 kWh/m³ respectively. These values for operating all pumps in the water transmission were 0.13 PJ and 0.32 kWh/m³ respectively. Similarly, the energy intensity value for water distribution was 0.27 kWh/m³ and distributes water to residential, commercial and industrial end-users. Determining the energy intensity predicts the future energy demand in urban water system. In 2030 and 2050, the predicted energy demand will be 0.50 and 0.83 PJ respectively for water transmission whereas it will be 0.41 and 0.67 PJ for water distribution.

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