Over the coming two decades, the amount of fresh water that will be consumed for the production of energy on a global basis is set to double, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
And while the hydraulic fracturing of subterranean rock formations with high pressure – also known as fracking for water – is currently grabbing headlines, the impact, as foreseen by the IEA, is rather small.
But according to them, the strain on water resources will be due to the energy system as it keeps up with the growing global population, leading to higher demand for coal-fired electricity and biofuel production.
Sources: International Energy Agency, National Geographic
