The weak data on the water–energy nexus in Spain

Abstract This paper focuses on the fact that the water–energy nexus remains an irrelevant issue on the energy policy agenda and on the priorities of the energy leaders in Spain. This is a striking fact given that this takes place in the most arid country in Europe, where almost two-thirds of electri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inWater policy Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 382 - 393
Main Authors Sesma-Martín, Diego, Rubio-Varas, M. d. Mar
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford IWA Publishing 01.04.2019
Subjects
Arid regions
Cooling
Councils
Demand
Electric power generation
Electricity generation
Energy
Energy industry
Energy management
Energy policies
Energy policy
Environmental research
Freshwater
Information sources
Inland water environment
Instruments
Nuclear electric power generation
Nuclear energy
Nuclear power plants
Nuclear reactors
Policies
Statistical methods
Statistics
Water supply
France
United States > US
Spain
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Summary:Abstract This paper focuses on the fact that the water–energy nexus remains an irrelevant issue on the energy policy agenda and on the priorities of the energy leaders in Spain. This is a striking fact given that this takes place in the most arid country in Europe, where almost two-thirds of electricity generation would have to be halted in the absence of an adequate water supply. We contend that part of the explanation may lie in the lack of official statistics and inconsistent sources of information on the water–energy nexus in Spain. To illustrate this point, we provide examples of the uneven data available for one of the most intensive freshwater users in the thermoelectric sector in Spain: nuclear power plants. Our research demonstrates the need for improved indicators as policy instruments in the water–energy nexus in Spain since it is impossible to improve what cannot be measured.
ISSN:1366-7017
1996-9759
DOI:10.2166/wp.2019.081