Power-Water Nexus

Water distribution system facilities, desalination plants, and water and wastewater treatment plants, are energy-intensive infrastructures that account for considerable electricity consumption in many countries. Traditionally, however, power and water infrastructure have been designed and operated as separate systems, leaving an untapped opportunity for enhancing the energy and economic efficiency of both systems.

Our research investigates the power-water nexus in the context of the integrated operation of interdependent power and water infrastructure and develops models for integrating the energy flexibility of water infrastructure (e.g., water pumps, treatment, and desalination plants) in power systems operation. The proposed models ensure the deliverability of the scheduled energy flexibility for the water equipment by considering the detailed hydraulic constraints of water distribution networks.