Water is essential for the energy and food sector. The access to energy, energy security and the environmental impact are influenced by the disposability of water. Fossil fuels need water for extraction, transport and processing. Thermal power plants (based on nuclear, fossil fuels, biomass, concentrating solar power) use water for cooling purposes and for hydroelectric plants resilient river currents are crucial. Similarly, production of bio fuels and bio plastics require water for the production processes.

Energy is important for accessing clean drinking water, for watering in agriculture and waste water treatment: pumping of ground and surface water, treatment and transport of water to the end-users as well as cleaning of wastewater in order to recycle it.

Currently water, food and energy systems are dependent but do not interact actively. In Austria national regulations for energy production and distribution exist whereas issues concerning water are regulated on community level. Industrial agriculture and food processing is ruled by companies and multicorporate enterprises. The analysis of the nexus between energy, food and water therefore tries to address these complex and critical subjects in a holistic and systemic way.

Lately, progress in research and analysis led to innovative technologies and integrated approach concerning the above addressed subjects. In the current issue of the magazine “nachhaltige technologien” examples for these the discussed questions are given.