A new study led by the University of Princeton is taking a look at the benefits of wind and solar energy from a different perspective; groundwater sustainability. Their research, done in the drought-prone region of California, could have a positive impact on groundwater sustainability. The study, published in Nature Communications, takes a look at the potential benefits of wind and solar usage during times of drought. Specifically, how it would impact water scarcity and crop security to free up more resources for food production.
Lead author of the study, Xiaogang He, stated:
In the long term, if we do nothing, then we won’t have any groundwater in the aquifers, it’s like a bank account. If you keep withdrawing your money and put only a very small deposit, then in the long term you will have a deficit. It’s not sustainable.
Xiaogang He is a Princeton-trained Ph.D. Hydrologist with experience in economics, machine learning, and environmental policy.
Solar and wind power do not need to use the stored reserves found in groundwater aquifers and this is an overlooked benefit to these energy sources. During a five year drought, that California has recently endured, there was a lack of groundwater which forced the farmers to use reserves. Aquifers in the area became used up so quickly that they could not be replenished. Utilizing more solar and wind power would allow the diversion of water from hydroelectric facilities to irrigation instead.
Xiaogang He said:
People value solar and wind in terms of health benefits and mitigation of greenhouse emissions. The water sustainability value of solar and wind energy is largely overlooked. This is what we really want to highlight.
Xiaogang He said:
Our results also suggest that policymakers need to take the long-term outlook of groundwater depletion into consideration when planning further deployment of solar and wind energy
Increased usage of wind and solar power could be of huge benefit to water reserves. In theory, this would allow hydroelectric facilities the ability to release more water downstream, helping both the farmers and the aquifers. These studies do come with assumptions as well, so there is a need to be cautious. Xiaogang He hopes to do quantitative analysis in the future on each kilowatt of wind and solar-generated to see just how much water could be saved. This is certainly the kind of forward-thinking that is needed to help water conservation in future droughts.
