Water-Energy Nexus: Shaping Narratives Across Diverse Issues

Water is increasingly being included in narratives related to energy policy, that traditionally included only various dimensions of energy. In water constrained regions, water availability is being visibly felt as a constraint. This chapter looks at some key narratives that have the potential to shape various aspects of the energy, climate and water nexus debate. The chapter will discuss three important narratives for renewable energy in Asia: (i) concentrated solar power (CSP) for renewable energy integration, (ii) carbon capture and storage for negative emissions, and (iii) solar pumps for irrigation. The first two narratives are critical for a low-carbon world, while the third is critical for food security and livelihoods for the farmers, along with impacting the emissions debate. Once we introduce water as a critical dimension in these narratives traditionally related to energy and development policy, we can expect the choices to be very different. This chapter discusses the different elements of emerging water-energy nexus narrative that are relevant for Asian countries, and the nexus trade-offs that need to managed to support Asia’s fight against climate change.