By Sunil Ranjan, Chief Executive Officer, WOG Technologies
As a developing country with a massive population of 1.4 billion, India is standing at a critical juncture in its energy journey. It has a responsibility not only to power the growing industries and population, but also to shift to renewable energy sources to meet the net zero 2070 goals. Moving strongly towards this goal, India is investing heavily in renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydro, but for all of these, water remains a critical and indispensable source, which requires careful management.
The escalating water scarcity in India
For a massive population of 1.4 billion, India has only 4 per cent of the world’s freshwater resources, which are used for both urban and rural, along with agricultural and industrial needs. It is quite challenging to quench the thirst of a nation that is home to 17 per cent of the world’s population with the available freshwater resources. Given the circumstances, obtaining freshwater for renewable energy plants becomes a bottleneck and is unsustainable in the long run. India’s renewable energy plants need more sustainable and water-efficient solutions for long-term viability, which can only be achieved if we recycle and reintroduce water into the system.
Water is as crucial in the energy industry as it is in any other. A report suggests that power generation is expected to account for nearly 9 per cent of national water consumption by 2050, from 1.4 per cent in 2015. In India, where almost 600 million people are experiencing high to extreme water stress, using freshwater in a renewable power plant can exacerbate the scarcity.
Meeting the water requirements for generating renewable energy
Of all sources, generating energy from hydropower, biomass, and solar thermal requires the most water for operations. Water is needed to produce steam for spinning turbines as well as for wet cooling systems in solar thermal plants, and to convert biomass into biofuels. The water use for solar and wind energy is comparatively lower.
Integrating circular water solutions in these power plants can help minimise the need for freshwater while ensuring its consistent supply throughout the year. It will help create a ‘closed-loop economy’ where every resource is utilised to the fullest. The used water could be recycled and reintroduced into the system across different applications to run the industry and advance India’s goal of becoming a net-zero emissions country by 2070.
Now, with the availability of advanced technologies such as membrane bioreactors, advanced oxidation processes, and smart wastewater treatment solutions, recycling wastewater has become even more convenient, and the results are better than before. The high-quality water generated can be used for all types of applications in renewable energy industries, including boiler feedwater, turbine cooling, electrolyte preparation, and component cleaning. Locating renewable energy plants near major wastewater-generating industries is also an excellent strategy to reduce the freshwater demand.
Beyond fulfilling the water needs
The benefits of circular water solutions go beyond reducing the demand for freshwater. Circularity would also mean less disposal of polluted wastewater into water bodies and the environment. From an economic point of view, reprocessing and reusing water can cost less than procuring freshwater and strengthen sustainability credentials. A renewable energy sector built on circular water solutions can be more resilient to climate change, which is expected to intensify water scarcity in several regions of India.
India is swiftly transitioning to renewable energy in line with its net zero goals. To increase its capacity and flourish, it needs a constant supply of quality water, which can only be met by recycling wastewater. Recycling and reintroducing water is the key to building a sustainable future. Renewable energy and circular water solutions are the two key pillars of a sustainable future and are essential for building resilient societies and ecosystems.
