The ANU-COST collaboration in the energy-water nexus

This project is led by CWEEP Research Associate, Dr Karen Hussey, and is a collaboration between the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) and The Australian National University (ANU). It is an integrative and interdisciplinary endeavour, incorporating scholars, policymakers and industry. The Initiative has supported a series of Exploratory Workshops to examine the links between water and energy, in four key areas:

1. Energy consumption in the urban water supply chain
2. Water demands in the energy sector (excluding biomass for energy, which will be captured in the next cluster)
3. Water and energy for food security
4. Water and energy demands in other industrial sectors i.e. chemical production, paper, transport, mining, beverages...

The objective of the COST initiative is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the links within and between these four clusters, the potential trade-offs between energy and water security, and, crucially, how policy-makers and government decision-makers can best manage these links in future policies.

To date, two Exploratory Workshops have been convened. The first, in January 2009, was a larger workshop of 50 participants from various disciplines, industries and government agencies, with the aim of “unpacking” the major links between water and energy and identifying the major research initiatives in the field both within Europe, and internationally.

The second workshop, in June 2009, was a smaller, invitation-only workshop convened with the aim of publishing 10-12 complementary and international case studies, which, together, highlight the complexity of energy-water interactions and which identify where better integrated policy and management strategies and solutions are needed or available.