Energy and Water: Preliminary Observations on the Links Between Water and Biofuels and Electricity Production

Book excerpt: Water and energy are inexorably linked -- energy is needed to pump, treat, and transport water and large quantities of water are needed to support the development of energy. Two examples that demonstrate the link between water and energy are the cultivation and conversion of corn, switchgrass, and algae into biofuels; and the production of electricity by thermoelectric power plants. There are three ongoing studies focusing on the water-energy nexus related to: (1) biofuels and water; (2) thermoelectric power plants and water; and (3) oil shale and water. This testimony provides the key themes that have emerged from work to date on the R&D and data needs with regard to the production of biofuels and electricity and their linkage with water.