Dialogue on Water, Energy and Climate Change (WECC)

Report from the Australian Dialogue and Preparatory Meeting for 5th World Water Forum, Istanbul, Turkey,

held in conjunction with International RiverSymposium, Brisbane, Australia

Greg Claydon, Executive Director, Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, Australia

Torkil Jønch-Clausen, Director, DHI Water Policy, Denmark

Features of the Australian Dialogue• Aims

1. establish greater Australian ownership of the vital issue of links between climate change, energy and water, and provide an Australian forum to discuss Australia's policy options and actions

2. provide initial responses from the meeting to inform the 5th World Water Forum in Turkey, March 2009

• Presentations by- DHI Water Policy, Denmark and Australia- World Water Council- National Water Commission, Australia- Australian Water Association- Australian National University- Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources and Water- CSIRO Land and Water- University of Technology, Sydney

• More than 140 people attended

• Dialogue facilitated and summarised by DHI Water Policy, Denmark and Australia

Climate Change in Queensland: What the science is telling us

Mid-range climate change scenario for QLD:

– An increase in daily average temperature by 2030 ~ 0.9 °C in coastal areas & 1.1 °C inland;

– Less rainfall & runoff, with regional exceptions;

– More severe droughts;

– Increase in extreme daily rainfall;

– Rise in sea-level ;

– More intense tropical cyclones; &

– Increased risk of storm surge.

• Annual Water Consumption – Australia 19,000-25,000 GL – QLD 3,500-4,600 GL

• Annual Surface Water Runoff– Australia 240,000-400,000 GL– QLD 93,000-160,000 GL

56-67% Surface

water

33-44% Groundwater

Water Use

Use from water sources in Qld

QLD Water Useby Sector Rural Use

Water Use by Generating Systems

• Wet cooled coal fired: 2,000 - 2,500 L/Mwh

• Dry cooled coal fired: 100 – 250 L/Mwh

• Combined cycle gas turbine: 800 – 1,000 L/Mwh

• Open cycle gas turbine: Negligible

Source: Tarong Energy

• Australia– Energy use 5,600PJ– CO2 emissions 580 Mt

• Queensland– Energy use

1,300PJ (23 %)– CO2 emissions 170 Mt

Source: National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2006 / ABS

Energy Use (2006)

Energy for Water Supply in QLD

  Annual Water Use

(ML)

Average Estimated

Energy Use (KWh/ML)

Energy Use

(MWh)

Energy Use

(PJ)

Agriculture 3,200,000 255 716,400 2.6

Urban (incl. domestic, industrial & manufact)

520,000 1000 1,003,000 3.6

Mining & Energy

180,000 560 97,000 0.4

Total Energy - - 1,720,000 6.6

% of Total Qld Energy

Use = 6.6 PJ

1297 PJ

= 0.5%

SEQ Water Supply Energy Requirements

SEQ Water Grid: Projected energy & water supply in 2012

WECC Draft Principles for Action

• Undertake “whole of water cycle” and “whole of energy cycle” analysis, including use, to identify least cost outcomes and overcome fragmentation of the water and energy cycles

• Consider climate change scenarios in water resource planning, including the assessment of water availability and use for environmental and human purposes

• Improve monitoring, reporting and incentives for energy management including decentralised systems

• Consider climate variability & climate change scenarios in water supply planning options to achieve agreed levels of service

WECC Draft Principles for Action

• Consider impacts on the regional water balance in energy planning options

• Consider water demands and associated climate change implications in energy supply options

• Consider energy demands and associated climate change implications in water supply options

• Clarify “urban system” energy use/GHG emissions to help establish a consistent and quantitative analysis framework

WECC Draft Principles for Action

• Minimise GHG emissions by maximising efficiency of water & energy use, use of low emission or renewable alternatives

• Consider water entitlement issues and the environmental flow impacts in GHG policies

• Unite and encourage water-related energy / GHG research efforts which have already commenced e.g. through a co-ordinated program of national efforts

Australian call for action

National policy responses in Australia can include:• Preparation of specific directives to the Council of Australian

Government [COAG]. These could be led by one of the member states’ natural resources agencies, using the above draft WECC Principles for Action

• An Australian Dialogue meeting in early 2009 on national strategic directions, supported by a Ministerial Meeting to agree on actions

• A national study, starting immediately, to identify energy and water footprints, their relationships, and identification of national standards and benchmarks, cognisant of the draft WECC Principles for Action above and similar studies undertaken in USA, Western Europe, Singapore and elsewhere.