Water and energy futures for Melbourne: implications of land use, water use, and water supply strategy

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Kenway ◽  
G. M. Turner ◽  
S. Cook ◽  
T. Baynes
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Urban Form ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Energy Futures ◽  
Management Measures

This paper quantifies the effect of three policy levels on the water and energy futures of Melbourne, Australia. During a time of severe water shortages attributed to climate change, water strategies lacked consideration of energy consequences. Modeling, guided by urban metabolism theory, demonstrated that a compact urban form, reduced water consumption by 90 GL/a, compared with a sprawling city, and had greater water conservation impact than simulated demand management measures. Household water conservation, coupled with increased use of solar hot water systems, reduced grid energy use by some 30 PJ/a. Desalination, tripled water supply energy demand, growing to a total of 4.5 PJ/a, by 2045. While the increase is less than 1% of total Melbourne urban energy use, it contributes to a substantial increase in the energy bill for urban water provision. Importantly, the energy impact could be offset through demand management measures. Recommendations for the combined management of water and energy include improving energy characterization of the urban water cycle; impact-evaluation of regional plans; using total urban water and energy balances in analysis to provide context; and developing reporting mechanisms and indicators to help improve baseline data across the water and energy systems.

scholarly journals Energy implications of the millennium drought on urban water cycles in Southeast Australian cities

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 214-221
Author(s):  
K. L. Lam ◽  
P. A. Lant ◽  
S. J. Kenway
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Related Energy ◽  
Millennium Drought ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Supply Systems

Abstract During the Millennium Drought in Australia, a wide range of supply-side and demand-side water management strategies were adopted in major southeast Australian cities. This study undertakes a time-series quantification (2001–2014) and comparative analysis of the energy use of the urban water supply systems and sewage systems in Melbourne and Sydney before, during and after the drought, and evaluates the energy implications of the drought and the implemented strategies. In addition, the energy implications of residential water use in Melbourne are estimated. The research highlights that large-scale adoption of water conservation strategies can have different impacts on energy use in different parts of the urban water cycle. In Melbourne, the per capita water-related energy use reduction in households related to showering and clothes-washing alone (46% reduction, 580 kWhth/p/yr) was far more substantial than that in the water supply system (32% reduction, 18 kWhth/p/yr). This historical case also demonstrates the importance of balancing supply- and demand-side strategies in managing long-term water security and related energy use. The significant energy saving in water supply systems and households from water conservation can offset the additional energy use from operating energy-intensive supply options such as inter-basin water transfers and seawater desalination during dry years.

scholarly journals Advanced Control of a District Heating System with High Residential Domestic Hot Water Demand

2020 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
pp. 01004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislav Chicherin ◽  
Lyazzat Junussova ◽  
Timur Junussov
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
District Heating System ◽  
Domestic Hot Water ◽  
Extreme Load ◽  
Flow Controller

Proper adjustment of domestic hot water (DHW) load structure can balance energy demand with the supply. Inefficiency in primary energy use prompted Omsk DH company to be a strong proponent of a flow controller at each substation. Here the return temperature is fixed to the lowest possible value and the supply temperature is solved. Thirty-five design scenarios are defined for each load deviation index with equally distributed outdoor temperature ranging from +8 for the start of a heating season towards extreme load at temperature of -26°C. All the calculation results are listed. If a flow controller is installed, the customers might find it suitable to switch to this type of DHW supply. Considering an option with direct hot water extraction as usual and a flow controller installed, the result indicates that the annual heat consumption will be lower once network temperatures during the fall or spring months are higher. The heat load profiles obtained here may be used as input for a simulation of a DH substation, including a heat pump and a tank for thermal energy storage. This design approach offers a quantitative way of sizing temperature levels in each DH system according to the listed methodology and the designer's preference.

Impact of urban water supply on energy use in China: a provincial and national comparison

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 1213-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Smith ◽  
Shuming Liu ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Dragan Savic ◽  
Gustaf Olsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Urban Water Supply ◽  
National Comparison

scholarly journals Residential Solar-Based Seasonal Thermal Storage Systems in Cold Climates: Building Envelope and Thermal Storage

Energies ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 3972-3985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Hugo ◽  
Radu Zmeureanu
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Cold Climates ◽  
Solar Collectors

The reduction of electricity use for heating and domestic hot water in cold climates can be achieved by: (1) reducing the heating loads through the improvement of the thermal performance of house envelopes, and (2) using solar energy through a residential solar-based thermal storage system. First, this paper presents the life cycle energy and cost analysis of a typical one-storey detached house, located in Montreal, Canada. Simulation of annual energy use is performed using the TRNSYS software. Second, several design alternatives with improved thermal resistance for walls, ceiling and windows, increased overall air tightness, and increased window-to-wall ratio of South facing windows are evaluated with respect to the life cycle energy use, life cycle emissions and life cycle cost. The solution that minimizes the energy demand is chosen as a reference house for the study of long-term thermal storage. Third, the computer simulation of a solar heating system with solar thermal collectors and long-term thermal storage capacity is presented. Finally, the life cycle cost and life cycle energy use of the solar combisystem are estimated for flat-plate solar collectors and evacuated tube solar collectors, respectively, for the economic and climatic conditions of this study.

Blueprint for a greener city: growth need not costthe earth

2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Water Reuse ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
River System ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
System Capacity ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Alternative Water

The current human use of global natural resources exceeds the long-term sustainable capacity of the planet. New and more sustainable ways of building cities and providing urban water services are needed. The Australian city of Sydney is expected to grow by more than 1 million people over the next 30 years. Water use from the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system already exceeds system capacity. Current proposals to allocate a greater proportion of low flows to meet environmental flow needs will limit urban water allocations and require the development of more efficient water and sewerage systems for new and existing urban development. This paper presents a hypothetical case study of how water supply and sewerage services might be provided for an additional 1 million people over a 25-year period. It compares traditional service provision with alternative scenarios incorporating water conservation measures, rainwater harvesting and water reuse. The paper presents both economic and environmental comparisons. The economic comparisons include valuations of environmental externalities in the form of environmental levies. It shows that the extra capital costs of water conservation, alternative water sources and water reuse scenarios are offset by operating savings and environmental benefits. Ecological footprints are reduced because of lower water diversions, discharges, energy use and CO2 emissions. The paper also discusses the implication of alternative infrastructure ownership and water pricing arrangements, and the opportunities to create incentives for additional investment in water conservation and reuse projects.

The 2020 emissions reduction impact of urban water conservation in California

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Haley ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Gallo ◽  
Abigail Kehr ◽  
Michael Perry ◽  
David Siao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
End Use ◽  
Year 2000 ◽  
The Impact

This paper assesses the potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction impacts of urban water conservation. Using California as a case study, it estimates this co-benefit of California's statewide urban water conservation goal of 20% per capita reduction by 2020 (relative to a year 2000 baseline). We developed a model of a water supply system to assess the impact of reduced urban water demand on emissions. Embedded energy and emissions were established for each stage of the water supply cycle: supply and conveyance, treatment, distribution, end use and wastewater treatment. We conclude that water conservation, in addition to being an important strategy for adaptation to climate change, represents a significant opportunity for mitigation. Under policies that prioritize savings of water that is heated, the most energy-intensive process in the supply cycle, water conservation offers the potential to conserve 3.5 Mt CO2e in 2020. This result suggests that water conservation could be an important mitigation strategy in other states, even those that are not water-constrained and do not have highly energy intensive supply sources.

scholarly journals Applying the Water-Energy Nexus for Water Supply—A Diagnostic Review on Energy Use for Water Provision in Africa

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2560
Author(s):  
Pauline Macharia ◽  
Norbert Kreuzinger ◽  
Nzula Kitaka
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Water Energy Nexus ◽  
Water Supply And Demand ◽  
Water Provision ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollutant

This work explores the application of the Water-Energy Nexus concept for water supply in the African context, where its operationalization is quite limited compared to developed regions. Furthermore, water supply and demand drivers and their influence on energy use are examined. This study found that there is limited literature available on the operationalization of the concept, and energy use is not considered a key performance indicator by water regulators and utilities. Regionally, most of the studies were carried out in the northern and southern Africa, where energy demand for water supply through desalination is high. An analysis of water supply and demand drivers show diminishing quantities of available freshwater, and increased anthropogenic pollutant loads in some areas are projected. Consequently, utilities will likely consider alternative energy-intensive water supply options. Increased population growth with the highest global urban growth rate is projected, with about 60% of the total population in Africa as urban dwellers by 2050. This implies huge growth in water demand that calls for investment in technology, infrastructure, and improved understanding of energy use and optimization, as the largest controllable input within utilities boundaries. However, it requires a data-driven understanding of the operational drivers for water supply and incorporation of energy assessment metrics to inform water-energy policies and to exploit the nexus opportunities.

scholarly journals Urban water management challenges and achievements in Windhoek, Namibia

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 703-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Earl W. Lewis ◽  
Chad Staddon ◽  
Johannes Sirunda
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Urban Water Management ◽  
Water Demand Management

Abstract This paper gives an overview of the main challenges and achievements faced by Windhoek's water management sector. The paper highlights pertinent issues arising from increased water demand, and also explores current and future water supply augmentation options. Water planners experience management challenges as a result of a combination of factors, mainly, lack of funds and staff, limited expertise, poor communication between stakeholders, and weak regulation and enforcement. In order to meet these challenges water managers need to develop more robust and resilient strategies, including greater focus on water demand management.

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