Increasing Energy Consumption in the Water Sector
The International Water Association held a week-long congress in Vienna recently. Delegates from 94 countries from universities, NGOs, UN, utility companies and governmental agencies from all corners of the world.
Grundfos
”There was quite a lot of focus on how climate change is increasing energy consumption in the water sector. One of the reasons for this is the increasing use of desalination,” reports Grundfos Business Development Manager,Torben With Ottosen who attended the congress.
“A very interesting case was the effect of climate change on water supply in the Netherlands. They use potable water sourced from the Rhine, where the flow used to be stable all year round. But ice and snow levels in the Alpes are in decline due to a warmer climate; now the flow in the Rhine during the summer is too low to secure the water intake. Now they are using desalination even though this is more energy demanding”
Themes discussed at the Congress harmonised strongly with a number of Grundfos themes:
- Water infrastructure in growing urban areas, megacities and cities of the future
- Answers to the implications on water of climate change
- Desalination and water reuse using membrane technologies
- Tomorrow’s technology frontiers
- Sanitation
- Water & energy
Focus on environmental solutions
A trade exhibition held in conjunction with the congress, were the centrepiece of the Grundfos stand – a world globe water feature – was the exhibition’s most photographed item. A visiting dignitary was also interviewed for TV interview with the globe and Grundfos stand as a backdrop.
A display with the virtual water content of various consumer products and the SQ Flex demo were also hits. “The stand was well visited, and we left the right impression,” reported Grundfos Business Development Manager, Peter Busch.
Source: Grundfos Holding A/S
