Photo credit: Itaipu Binacional
Modelling and Analytical Tools
Given the complexity in the management and optimal use of natural resources, a growing number of national economic planning authorities and several international organizations are engaged in global and regional water-energy nexus modelling efforts. Many comprehensive, integrated and long-term modelling extend to cover, in addition to water and energy, land and/or food security. These efforts are very valuable at the national and regional levels, but they depend on the availability of disaggregated data that sometimes are not readily available particularly in developing countries.
Today, a growing number of national economic planning authorities also embark on some more comprehensive modelling efforts as a part of their intermediate or longer-term public investment planning. Modelling techniques and software programmes are accessible, and the necessary skills are also available at public or private local or international universities and research institutes particularly in developed countries.
However, in many cases, the application of modelling tools is still constrained by a lack of some of the necessary data. Whereas energy related technical and market data are comparatively easily available, water related data is often more difficult to find. In some cases, data for some essential indicators may not be collected regularly, or may not be collected at all, especially in developing countries.
International Efforts
Several international organizations, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the World Bank Group, the International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA) and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden are engaged in global and regional water-energy-nexus modelling efforts.
Some 63 counties have participated and made use of the IEA-ETSAO Energy Technology Systems Analysis Programme. The IEA modelling tools can be amended to include water related modelling. The Thirsty Energy Initiative and the Water, Energy, Food Security Resource Platform of the World Bank also make information and resources on integrated modelling on water and energy planning and investment available. Various modelling studies are available on the Nexus Resources Platform on Water, Energy and Food Security Resources, hosted by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Comprehensive, integrated and long- term modelling is particularly important in the context of river-basin-based water and energy planning, especially when the activities concern international watercourses. The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) has undertaken water energy-nexus studies for the trans-boundary Zambezi River Basin in Africa, and for Indus River Basin in South Asia. As part of the nexus assessments under the Water Convention, a number of such integrated models including, among others, for the Sava and Drina River Basins in Europe and the Syr Darya River Basin in Central Asia were developed by KTH Royal Institute of Technology using open source modelling tools. On all continents, concerned Governments have formed regional intergovernmental bodies with a view to coordinate river basin development efforts (e.g. Mekong River Commission, founded 1995). These inter-governmental bodies are well placed to conduct comprehensive development studies and establish forward looking multi-sectoral models, including on the water-energy nexus, to facilitate collaborative planning and decision-making processes.
For more information, please see the following references:
Almulla, Y., et al., (Almulla) (2018): "The role of energy-water nexus to motivate transboundary cooperation: An indicative analysis of the Drina river basin," International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management, vol. 18, pp. 3-28, 2018.
De Strasser, L.; Lipponen, A.; Howells, M.; Stec, S.; Bre?thaut, C. A (De Strasser, 2016): Methodology to Assess the Water Energy Food Ecosystems Nexus in Transboundary River Basins. Water 2016, 8, 59.
International Energy Agency: World Energy Outlook, November 2016:
International Energy Agency: Water Energy Nexus, Excerpt from the World Energy Outlook 2016:
International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis: Integrated Solution for Water, Energy and Land (Progress Report III), October 2018 (UNIDO Project 140312) (2018)
Ramos, H. M., Energy Efficiency in Water Supply Systems: GA for pump schedule optimisation and ANN for hybrid energy prediction, 2012:
Rodriguez, D. J., et al (2013): Thirsty energy. Water papers. Washington D.C.; World Bank:
51³Ô¹Ï Economic Commission for Europe: A Nexus Approach to Transboundary Cooperation: The experience of the Water Convention, 2018:
World Bank (2017): Modeling the water-energy nexus: how do water constraints affect energy planning in South Africa? Washington, D.C. World Bank Group:
The Water, Energy and Food Security Resource Platform:
Climate, Land, Energy and Water Framework (CLEW)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), together with other UN and academic partners, has developed the integrated CLEW (climate, land, energy and water) framework for integrating different assessment approaches and methodologies and facilitating collaboration between policy analysts and planners across resource domains (IAEA 2019). Over 20 countries have applied the CLEW approach for policy, technology and scenario assessments at the regional, national and local levels (for examples, see IAEA 2020). The framework builds on the IAEA¡¯s suite of energy modelling tools and training programmes, technical assistance and information resources for member states to build capacity and develop skills in integrated planning (IAEA 2018).
For more information, please see the following references:
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
IAEA (2018). IAEA Methodologies and Models for Sustainable Energy Planning, IAEA Brief, Vienna, Austria:
IAEA (2019). The IAEA Framework for Integrated Assessment of Climate, Land, Energy and Water, IAEA Factsheet, Vienna, Austria:
IAEA (2020). Integrated Assessment of Climate, Land, Energy and Water, Vienna Austria: