Energy and water nexus exists due to the fact that water is used in hydropower generation. Hydropower is considered cleaner that coal fired power stations. In the past few decades, we have seen the reduced water levels in dams and rivers that feed into them. Consequently, the amount of energy that can be generated is also getting lower with time due to climate change.
If precipitation keeps dwindling, we shall continue to witness a decline in the power generation capacity in many countries will be affected. There will also be consequent effects on the industrial development and livelihoods.
Understanding the water and energy nexus is therefore a key enabling aspect of managing sustainable development and to inform infrastructural development in developing and transition countries. The situation of water and power generation is further exacerbated by the existence of other competing users upstream and downstream.
