Exploring the water-energy nexus in urban and tourist areas of the western mediterranean: empirical findings from benidorm and barcelona
- Autores: Hyerim Yoon
- Directores de la Tesis: David Saurí i Pujol (dir. tes.)
- Lectura: En la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ( España ) en 2018
- Idioma: español
- Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: María Hernández Hernández (presid.), Xavier Gabarrell Durany (secret.), Joe Williams (voc.)
- Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Geografía por la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
- Materias:
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
- Resumen
The thesis analyzes the Water-Energy Nexus (WEN) by applying mixed methodology and focusing on the urban water metabolism in Benidorm and Barcelona. The case of Benidorm examines water supply at the municipal scale and the hotel and recreational sector, while the case of Barcelona explores the WEN at the household-level. The thesis quantifies energy for water (energy intensity for water) to evaluate different energy requirements for water supply and end-use. In addition, qualitative analyses are needed to apprehend the WEN as being dynamic and relying on evolving relationships; it interacts within and across scales. Following the urban political ecology approach, the empirical findings from the case studies manifest the complex and inequitable socio-natural relations involving the WEN in the urban area, which are influenced by socio-technical conditions as well as ecological, social and political processes manifested through various actors and institutions.
In Benidorm, an epitome of mass tourism, energy for water varies considerably according to different precipitation scenarios. Complex social arrangements and power relationships are unveiled in the urban water cycle, which is considered the backbone of tourism development. Desalinated water from the Muchamiel desalination plant increases energy for water significantly. While treated wastewater and emergency interbasin water transfer appear to be a more convenient solution energy-wise and in social terms, the strong governmental push for desalination in Spain forces the local water authority towards the use of a much more energy- intensive resource. It provides an example of political interests at the national level that interferes with probably more optimal solutions at the local level. In light of recent technological and managerial developments, the Benidorm case demonstrates the challenges in the water-energy nexus, whereby scarcity is transferred from water to energy.
At the microscale, Benidorm’s hotels and recreational facilities highlight that the use of both energy and water are essential for key activities, such as water heating and steam generation, swimming pool and laundry. The energy-mix of hotels that was surveyed relied on varied energy-carriers, which cause the diversification of energy for water. The use of reclaimed water and renewable energy, i.e. solar thermal panels, biomass and ground source heat pump systems, is observed as a new trend. Despite acknowledging low awareness on the WEN, I suggest that the use of energy for water, along with water- and energy-use intensity, could be a valuable indicator to identify the WEN trade-offs.
The Barcelona case study focuses on the WEN at the household-level by adding the social perspective. It examines households suffering from water and energy poverty – or vulnerability, namely those who experience insufficient water and energy flows required in their respective domestic metabolisms for sustenance, care and reproductive functions. At the metropolitan scale, a substantial number of households are paying disproportionately larger water and energy bills compared to their income. The WEN perspective calls attention to understanding water price increases in relation to energy as scarcity affects the energy requirement for water treatment and production. In addition, old housing stocks and the low infiltration rate of central heating provides hostile socio-technical conditions for vulnerable households.
Lastly, the thesis highlights the role of a social movement ‘Aliança contra pobresa energètica’ (English: ‘Alliance against Energy Poverty’, APE) in Barcelona in changing the discourse on water-energy vulnerability. I borrow the concept of the co-production of nature and knowledge to explain how APE transformed the discourse on politics, institutional and governance failure concerning commodified utilities. I argue that addressing energy and water issues together more effectively demonstrates the reality faced by vulnerable households. Empirically, it also provides comparative lessons for enhancing the understanding of different institutional norms under market environmentalism.
