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Solar and wind energy enhances drought resilience and groundwater sustainability

Author

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  • Xiaogang He

    (Princeton University
    Stanford University
    International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

  • Kairui Feng

    (Princeton University)

  • Xiaoyuan Li

    (Princeton University)

  • Amy B. Craft

    (Princeton University)

  • Yoshihide Wada

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
    Utrecht University)

  • Peter Burek

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

  • Eric F. Wood

    (Princeton University)

  • Justin Sheffield

    (Princeton University
    University of Southampton)

Abstract

Water scarcity brings tremendous challenges to achieving sustainable development of water resources, food, and energy security, as these sectors are often in competition, especially during drought. Overcoming these challenges requires balancing trade-offs between sectors and improving resilience to drought impacts. An under-appreciated factor in managing the water-food-energy (WFE) nexus is the increased value of solar and wind energy (SWE). Here we develop a trade-off frontier framework to quantify the water sustainability value of SWE through a case study in California. We identify development pathways that optimize the economic value of water in competition for energy and food production while ensuring sustainable use of groundwater. Our results indicate that in the long term, SWE penetration creates beneficial feedback for the WFE nexus: SWE enhances drought resilience and benefits groundwater sustainability, and in turn, maintaining groundwater at a sustainable level increases the added value of SWE to energy and food production.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaogang He & Kairui Feng & Xiaoyuan Li & Amy B. Craft & Yoshihide Wada & Peter Burek & Eric F. Wood & Justin Sheffield, 2019. "Solar and wind energy enhances drought resilience and groundwater sustainability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-12810-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12810-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Zhaohua & Zhang, Hongzhi & Li, Hao & Wang, Song & Wang, Zhenpo, 2023. "Identifying the key factors to China's unsustainable external circulation through the accounting of the flow of embodied energy and virtual water," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    2. Jesse M. Keenan & Benjamin D. Trump & William Hynes & Igor Linkov, 2021. "Exploring the Convergence of Resilience Processes and Sustainable Outcomes in Post-COVID, Post-Glasgow Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Absar, Syeda Mariya & McManamay, Ryan A. & Preston, Benjamin L. & Taylor, Adam M., 2021. "Bridging global socioeconomic scenarios with policy adaptations to examine energy-water tradeoffs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).

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