Resource Nexus: Water, Energy, Food: Water Forum and Technology Roadmap

The Texas A&M University System and Area 41 co-hosted with Texas A&M University-San Antonio the Resource Nexus: Water Forum. Centering on the WEF Nexus Initiative of Texas A&M University, the two-day event held November 17-18, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas, focused on expanding the scope of the Water, Energy, Food (WEF) Nexus dialogue. Topics included identifying and responding to local, state, national and global challenges and opportunities relative to water resources in research, education, outreach and policy implementation. Other topics included holistic solutions to water security in Texas, and engaging stakeholders at home and worldwide in dialogues that will lead to resolution and prevention of conflict over WEF Nexus-related resources. The National Science Foundation-supported Texas Research Coordination Network, RCN-CE3SAR served as an independent facilitator. There was consensus among participants on consequences of failure to educate decision makers and the public about nexus, changes needed in education systems, barriers to action, and benefits if action is taken.https://digitalcommons.tamusa.edu/water_books/1005/thumbnail.jp

Water-Energy-Food Nexus Stakeholder Information Sharing and Engagement Workshop

On January 10, 2018, the Texas A&M University System Water-Energy-Food Initiative held the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Stakeholder Information Sharing and Engagement Workshop on the campus of Texas A&M University-San Antonio. The workshop involved over 70 stakeholders drawn from the water, energy, and food sectors in San Antonio and surrounding region. Stakeholders attending the workshop heard presentations on the status of San Antonio Case Study pilot projects and other WEF nexus work. Facilitated small-group sessions were held at the workshop to obtain stakeholder input on research questions to be asked, and on limitations and opportunities for stakeholder engagement on WEF nexus-related work in the San Antonio and the South Texas Region. Workshop participants also took before and after surveys to gauge knowledge about the WEF nexus. This report provides information on the outcomes of surveys, the workshop presentations and discussions, and the facilitated stakeholder sessions.https://digitalcommons.tamusa.edu/water_books/1002/thumbnail.jp

The impact of climate change on water and energy security

Abstract The interdependent fundamental systems, water and energy, face abundant challenges, one of which is climate change, which is expected to aggravate water and energy securities. The hydropower industry's benefits have led to its development and growth around the world. Nonetheless, climate change is expected to disturb the future performance of hydropower plants. This study looks at the Seimareh Hydropower Plant to assess the potential vulnerability of hydropower plants to climate change. Results indicate that climate change will affect the area's hydrological variables and suggest an increase in temperatures and decrease in precipitation during a 30-year future period (2040–2069). It is predicted that Seimareh Dam's inflow will decrease by between 5.2% and 13.4% in the same period. These hydrological changes will affect the Seimareh plant's performance: current predictions are that the total energy produced will decrease by between 8.4% and 16.3%. This research indicates the necessity of considering climate change impacts in designing and maintaining hydraulic structures to reach their optimal performance

Impact of anaerobic digestion on organic matter quality in pig slurry

Changes in pig slurry organic matter (OM) during anaerobic digestion (AD) were studied in a reactor to characterize OM evolution through AD. OM maturity and stability were evaluated using different biological and physico-chemical methods. Germination and growth chamber experiments revealed a higher maturity of digested slurry (DS) than raw slurry (RS). Soil incubations showed that DS was more stable than RS with a C-mineralization of 12.0 g CO2-C 100 g1 Corg after 49 days as compared to 17.6 g CO2-C100 g1 Corg. Biochemical fractionation showed a relative increase in stable compounds such as hemicellulose-like and lignin-like molecules. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed some changes in the chemical structures of OM with a reduction in the aliphatic chain, lipid and polysaccharide levels. A comparison between the evolution of OM during AD and the first weeks of a composting process showed almost identical changes. Finally a theoretical method called Fictitious Atomic-group Separation was applied to the elemental compositions of RS and DS. DS was less humified than RS and presented the properties of a fulvic acid, indicating that the observed stability in DS was mainly due to the biodegradation of the most labile compound

Toward Implementing HH the Amir Declaration of 2% Electricity Generation by Solar Energy in 2020

ABSTRACT The utility solar power plants were reviewed and classified by two basic groups: direct thermal concentrating solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV). CSP as Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) of 100 MW solar power plants (SPP) is suggested and suitable to provide solar thermal power for Qatar. Although, LFC had enough experience for small projects, it is still need to work in large scale plant such as 100 MW and couple with multi effect distillation (MED) to confirm costs

Analysis of the characteristics of global virtual water trade network using degree and eigenvector centrality, with a focus on food and feed crops

This study aims to analyze the characteristics of global virtual water trade (GVWT), such as the connectivity of each trader, vulnerable importers, and influential countries, using degree and eigenvector centrality during the period 2006–2010. The degree centrality was used to measure the connectivity, and eigenvector centrality was used to measure the influence on the entire GVWT network. Mexico, Egypt, China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan were classified as vulnerable importers, because they imported large quantities of virtual water with low connectivity. In particular, Egypt had a 15.3 Gm³ year⁻¹ blue water saving effect through GVWT: the vulnerable structure could cause a water shortage problem for the importer. The entire GVWT network could be changed by a few countries, termed "influential traders". We used eigenvector centrality to identify those influential traders. In GVWT for food crops, the USA, Russian Federation, Thailand, and Canada had high eigenvector centrality with large volumes of green water trade. In the case of blue water trade, western Asia, Pakistan, and India had high eigenvector centrality. For feed crops, the green water trade in the USA, Brazil, and Argentina was the most influential. However, Argentina and Pakistan used high proportions of internal water resources for virtual water export (32.9 and 25.1 %); thus other traders should carefully consider water resource management in these exporters

Evaluación del índice de pobreza hídrica (WPI) en la cuenca de Borujerd-Dorood (Irán) para reforzar los planes de gestión del territorio

Water poverty index (WPI) is widely considered a simple and clear tool to evaluate the effects of combined factors on water shortage and resources stress. In this research, we tried to focus on water tensions in the upstream part of the Karoon basin in Iran for analyzing the water status of the area. For this purpose, the required data were firstly obtained by preparing a report from the Water Authority, Agricultural part, and the Water and Wastewater Organization of Borujerd County. Then, the value of the WPI was estimated at the sub-basin scale of the large Karoon River in the Borujerd-Dorood Watershed (Iran) considering as a resource, the possibility to access, socio-economic capacity, uses, and environmental quality criteria. Results of this research indicated a variation range between 6.6 and 18.2, obtaining the lowest point for its current environmental condition and the highest point due to the easy access. The highest values of each criterion show the better conditions that lead to less water poverty in that sub-basin area. In general, the value of WPI in the study area is approximately 67.65, according to the classification of the Ecology and Hydrology center of Wallingford, this sub-basin is placed in a low to moderate range of water poverty. Given the multidimensional nature of the WPI and considering all the factors affecting the availability or lack of water resources as well as economic and social implications for the rural inhabitants devoted to agriculture and pasture, we conclude that this index can be considered as a useful tool in prioritizing the critical areas and an effective step to develop optimal use of water resources.El Índice de Pobreza Hídrica (WPI) se considera, en general, una herramienta simple y clara para evaluar los efectos de factores combinados sobre la escasez de agua y la tensión de los recursos hídricos. En esta investigación, intentamos centrarnos en las problemáticas hídricas en las cabeceras de montaña de la cuenca de Karoon en Irán para analizar el estado de los recursos hídricos. Para este propósito, los datos requeridos se obtuvieron en primer lugar mediante la preparación de un informe de la Autoridad del Agua, la parte Agrícola y la Organización de Agua y Saneamiento del Condado de Borujerd. Luego, se estimó el valor del WPI a escala de subcuenca del río Karoon considerando como recurso la posibilidad de acceso, capacidad socioeconómica, usos y criterios de calidad ambiental. Los resultados de esta investigación indicaron un rango de variación entre 6,6 y 18,2, obteniendo el punto más bajo por su condición ambiental actual y el punto más alto por el fácil acceso. Los valores más altos de cada criterio muestran las mejores condiciones que conducen a una menor pobreza hídrica en esa subcuenca. En general, el valor de WPI es aproximadamente 67,65, según la clasificación del centro de Ecología e Hidrología de Wallingford, esta subcuenca se ubica en un rango de pobreza hídrica de baja a moderada. Dado el carácter multidimensional del WPI y considerando todos los factores que afectan a la disponibilidad o falta de recursos hídricos, así como las implicaciones económicas y sociales para la población dedicada, principalmente a la agricultura y la ganadería, podemos concluir que este índice puede ser considerado como una herramienta útil para esta región priorizar las áreas críticas y un paso efectivo para el desarrollo y uso óptimo de sus recursos hídricos