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Transboundary Exchanges of Renewable Energy and Desalinated Water in the Middle East

Author

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  • David Katz

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa 39105, Israel)

  • Arkadiy Shafran

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa 39105, Israel)

Abstract

The Levant area of the Middle East suffers from both chronic water scarcity and high population growth. It is also a region highly dependent of fossil fuels. In order to address current and expected water demands, several countries in the region, including Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA), are depending increasingly on desalination, which is expected to intensify energy consumption and energy related emissions. Given that the region also benefits from high levels of solar irradiation nearly year-round, much attention has been given to the possibility of developing renewable energy in general and for desalination specifically. This paper presents partial results of a pre-feasibility study assessing the prospects of transfers of desalinated water from Israel and/or the PA, which have access to the Mediterranean Sea, to Jordan, in exchange for renewable solar-produced electricity from Jordan, which, unlike its neighbors, has an abundance of available open space suitable for solar production. The analysis shows that single-axis tracking photovoltaic (PV) systems appear to be the most economically feasible option. Moreover, the study shows that the proposed idea of international cooperation and water-energy exchanges, while facing political obstacles, could provide numerous economic, environmental and geopolitical benefits to all parties involved. As such, an arrangement such as that examined may be a more promising means of promoting both desalination and renewable energy than if each country unilaterally develops desalination and renewable energy in isolation from one another.

Suggested Citation

  • David Katz & Arkadiy Shafran, 2019. "Transboundary Exchanges of Renewable Energy and Desalinated Water in the Middle East," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:8:p:1455-:d:223523
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Md. Nazmul Aunsary & Bo-Ching Chen, 2019. "Sustainable Water Treatment Management," Water Conservation & Management (WCM), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 3(2), pages 11-13, October.
    2. Serena Sandri & Hussam Hussein & Nooh Alshyab, 2020. "Sustainability of the Energy Sector in Jordan: Challenges and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-25, December.
    3. Esmaeil Ahmadi & Benjamin McLellan & Behnam Mohammadi-Ivatloo & Tetsuo Tezuka, 2020. "The Role of Renewable Energy Resources in Sustainability of Water Desalination as a Potential Fresh-Water Source: An Updated Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-31, June.
    4. Esmaeil Ahmadi & Benjamin McLellan & Seiichi Ogata & Behnam Mohammadi-Ivatloo & Tetsuo Tezuka, 2020. "An Integrated Planning Framework for Sustainable Water and Energy Supply," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-37, May.

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