71 Qin et al (2015) study the water and energy nexus in China from 2010 to 2035 Of China’s 669 cities, two thirds have experienced water shortages, and 40% of the nation’s rivers are severely polluted[.]
71 Qin et al (2015) study the water and energy nexus in China from 2010 to 2035 Of China’s 669 cities, two thirds have experienced water shortages, and 40% of the nation’s rivers are severely polluted Therefore, water restrictions have hindered China’s energy development Consequently, this study aims to analyse the energy sector’s water demands and understand the potential conflicts among sectoral policies in terms of both water and energy This study also analyses the reduction of current costs and water consumption for energy processes, and assesses the sectors’ compliance with industrial water policies under different scenarios It also considers current policies and the potential for the sector to incorporate replacement technology in the future The key findings indicate that the China’s future plans in energy development could potentially conflict with industrial water policies, while the energy sector’s water consumption depends on technological choices, especially in cooling power plants Further, the high demand for electricity is expected to be primarily by coal and nuclear power, which could potentially include new sources of fresh water consumption This study deploys life-cycle, scenario, and policy analyses, the key outcomes of which provide comprehensive insight into energy–water connections and identify the mutually beneficial trade-offs between sectoral policies in the water and energy sectors This could eventually facilitate China’s development of compatible water and energy plans through more sustainable policies However, this research did not focus on any connection with the food sector, which would predominantly consume water and energy in its production processes to meet increasing food demands in the world’s most populated country Meanwhile, the research model merely focuses on a qualitative analysis, making it less applicable in assessing either the broader impacts among the energy and water sectors or their impacts on society, the economy and the environment Damerau et al (2016) study the possibility for water savings and trade-offs under the energy–food nexus toward the year 2050 This study discusses the significant increase in water stress for many locations worldwide, including North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Therefore, this study aims to decrease future water consumption without adversely affecting the energy and food sectors The authors argue that changes in consumption patterns in the agriculture and energy fields, combined with water conservation measures, would yield positive impacts Consequently, key findings of this study suggest that the food supply must increase due to higher protein requirements, which will increase water demands; further, the rapidly increasing consumption of biofuels will lead to sharply