干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The Gulf cooperation countries (GCC) have severe water scarcity and abundant, but finite, energy supply. Population growth, urbanization, and economic development in GCC significantly increase water demand. Water demands in GCC are mainly supplied by the extensive energy processes of water desalination, groundwater abstraction, water conveyance from one location to another, and treating wastewater for reclamation. Huge amounts of energy are used to produce, extract, treat, convey, and distribute freshwater; and collect, treat and dispose wastewater. Therefore, water and energy are intimately dependent, which is known as water-energy nexus and is briefly presented here. This paper illustrates, in general, the use of water in prime energy production and processing and electric power generation. Then, it discusses the extensive uses of energy in water processes such as water desalination, wastewater treatment and water conveyance. In GCC arid area, the demands for water and energy are on the rise, and the energy resources are drained in unsustainable way to satisfy water demands. The energy and water status in the GCC is presented. Example of the extensive energy use in desalting and conveying freshwater to one of the main cities, Riyadh, is illustrated. While the water in GCC is very scarce, water consumptions are among the highest in the world, as well as the energy consumption.