International Expo "Water and Sustainable Development"
1st Permanent Forum on Water and Sustainability: 'Water and energy: two challenges that reinforce each other'
Start Date: Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 18:00 h
End Date: Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 20:30 h
Place: Centro Joaquín Roncal, C/ San Braulio nº 5-7, Saragossa, Spain.
Organised by: Water Tribune
backThe first session of the Permanent Forum on Water and Sustainability (FOPA) was devoted to water and energy. The question of water was discussed and considered to be essential to the future of renewable energy sources, especially in Spain.
Spain faces two major challenges in terms of sustainability: water and energy. The current energy model is not sustainable in the long term. Although the challenges will be difficult to overcome, it can be done if public institutions and private enterprises combine their efforts.
The ‘water factor’ may become a major asset in developing renewable energy sources, since Spain’s hydraulic potential is not fully developed. Furthermore, it is possible to accumulate water resources, through such techniques as desalination and practices such as treating water and recycling used water. As such, the issue is not so much about water as it is about energy availability. Countries disposing of large energy resources, in particular renewable sources of energy, may increase their water resources. It is in this way that the water/energy pairing strengthens itself. Energy producers can attain or create new water sources, by desalinating sea water, for example.
Access a summary of the debate and the discussion [PDF Format – 516 KB, in Spanish]
