Do we have water in the fire?

Synchronously, two essential components of our society and our global economy have almost simultaneously entered a crisis situation: energy and water.

It is not instinctive to link these two resources which have different uses. If fossil fuels symbolize the fire of hell, purity emanates from water.

However, in this world that is heating up, one and the other could well be the two sides of the same coin.

Against all odds, the European winter has gone off without a problem despite major gas heart beats and the threat of an electrical blackout. Even if several companies decided to relocate to find economic refuge in Asia or the United States, the Old Continent's energy performance surprised the electric network managers, but gave ammunition to supporters of the status quo. The futility of saving energy continues to be an audible message.

🌊 With a season's delay, it's the water turn to show signs of shortages. While water is an essential nutrient that draws a line between life and death, it is also a source that enables the extraction of raw materials and the creation of energy.

🛢 In one of the world's most arid regions, Saudi Arabia must inject water vapor to compensate for declining reservoir pressure and extract oil. To desalinate its sea water, the kingdom consumes almost 1 million barrels of petrol per day out of a total production of ten.

🏛 In the United States, the world's second largest extractor, a single shale gas or oil drilling requires between 250,000 and 1 million liters of water to perform hydraulic fracturing. At this rate, it is difficult to imagine a happy ending for both household consumption and oil extraction.

🏭 The coolness of water allows nuclear power plants not to overheat and to remain in operation. Nearly a third of the water consumed in France is dedicated to the power plants with a nagging question: how long will there be enough cool water to cool them?

In the Alps, melting glaciers fill the dams. But further down in the plains, the situation is different, with hydroelectricity production falling due to lack of water. And what can we say about the Hoover Dam in Las Vegas, which does not even have a drop left to turbine.

👩 🌾 On the other hand, agriculture has the mission to bring a calorific energy to the population. According to the rules of international trade, a region's drought can be made up by imports. To have good feelings, it is simple to financially compensate our farmers, especially since this replacement food must certainly come from paradise.

But, in view of the seriousness of the situation, some countries are banning their export of food. Paradoxically, these imports by boats rely on the intensive use of oil, which is itself fed by water, which is fed by oil.

Faced with the magnitude of the task, governments are unable to make clear-cut decisions on either a transition or on water governance. However, unlike energy, which can be easily transported, traded or commercialized, water remains a local commodity and this is where tensions arise.

The United States and Australia have dared to sell it on the stock market to make dividends flow, while the dam on Ethiopia's White Nile puts the agriculture of all of Egypt at risk. The drought has unearthed a rivalry between Switzerland and Italy for the use of the waters of Lake Maggiore that would have been inconceivable only a few years ago.

The energy transition endures delays, while for reasons of survival, the only water schedule is: today. Because of its imperative aspect, it has the potential to pave the way for change.

Isn't it relevant to use water to put out a fire?

Also published in the Swiss newspaper : Le Temps

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