At the Laboratory for Intelligent Integrated Networks of Engineering Systems, we have been working on the Energy-Water Nexus in recognition that the supply and demand of water and energy are inherently coupled.  In the Middle East, this coupling is particularly aggravated by the hot & arid climate and regional water scarcity.   This subject has gained the attention of numerous policy centers.

Most recently, the EU-GCC Clean Energy Network has recognized the need to collaborate on the Energy-Water Nexus.  On November 26-27 2013, they held the EU-GCC Renewable Energy Policy Experts’ Workshop was held at Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  Prof. Amro M. Farid was invited to give a keynote presentation entitled:  “Opportunities for Operations Management & Planning of the Energy-Water Nexus”.  In this presentation, we first advocated the need for integrated energy-water markets based upon our recent publications on the subject.  We also noted the potential for integrated energy-water planning that can prioritize the water-intensity of energy technologies and the energy-intensity of water technologies.

Full text of our papers on the energy-water nexus may be found through the LIINES Website publications page.

LIINES Website: http://amfarid.scripts.mit.edu