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Shifting Scarcities? The Energy Intensity of Water Supply Alternatives in the Mass Tourist Resort of Benidorm, Spain

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  • Hyerim Yoon

    (Departament de Geografia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain)

  • David Sauri

    (Departament de Geografia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain)

  • Antonio M. Rico Amorós

    (Instituto Interuniversitario de Geografía, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain)

Abstract

The energy intensity of water—‘energy (electricity)-for-water’—is calculated for Benidorm, a mass tourism resort in the Spanish Mediterranean coast, where the urban water cycle has evolved in response to a series of episodes of water stress. The analysis is based on primary data compiled from various actors involved in the urban water cycle encompassing water extraction, end uses, and wastewater treatment, including tertiary treatment. The results provide one of the first analyses of the relations between energy and water in a mass tourist center, which may be of potential interest for other tourist areas. It is estimated that a total of 109 GWh/year of electricity is required to operate the water cycle of Benidorm. About 4% of total energy use in Benidorm is dedicated to extracting, transporting, and treating water. The most energy-intensive stage is represented by end uses, which accounts for 20% of the total energy use in Benidorm when the energy required for water pumping and hot water use is considered. Additionally, energy intensity for water extraction was estimated for normal, wet, and two dry year scenarios. In comparison with the normal scenario, energy intensity is six times larger when desalinated water is incorporated during a dry year, whereas the emergency interbasin water transfer resulted in a more moderate increase in energy intensity. While treated wastewater and emergency water transfers appear to be a more convenient solution in energy terms, the strong impulse given to desalination in Spain is forcing local water authorities towards the use of a resource that is much more energy intensive, although, on the other hand, much less dependent on the vagaries of climate. In light of recent technological and managerial developments, the Benidorm case illuminates the challenges appearing in the analysis of the water-energy nexus, especially the fact that scarcity may be transferred from water to energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyerim Yoon & David Sauri & Antonio M. Rico Amorós, 2018. "Shifting Scarcities? The Energy Intensity of Water Supply Alternatives in the Mass Tourist Resort of Benidorm, Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:824-:d:136459
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    Cited by:

    1. Cremades, Roger & Sanchez-Plaza, Anabel & Hewitt, Richard J & Mitter, Hermine & Baggio, Jacopo A. & Olazabal, Marta & Broekman, Annelies & Kropf, Bernadette & Tudose, Nicu Constantin, 2021. "Guiding cities under increased droughts: The limits to sustainable urban futures," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    2. Almudena Nolasco‐Cirugeda & Pablo Martí & Gabino Ponce, 2020. "Keeping mass tourism destinations sustainable via urban design: The case of Benidorm," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1289-1303, September.
    3. Carlos J. Baños & María Hernández & Antonio M. Rico & Jorge Olcina, 2019. "The Hydrosocial Cycle in Coastal Tourist Destinations in Alicante, Spain: Increasing Resilience to Drought," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-20, August.
    4. Montserrat Boronat-Navarro & Alexandra García-Joerger, 2019. "Ambidexterity, Alliances and Environmental Management System Adoption in Spanish Hotels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Sandra Ricart & Rubén A. Villar-Navascués & Maria Hernández-Hernández & Antonio M. Rico-Amorós & Jorge Olcina-Cantos & Enrique Moltó-Mantero, 2021. "Extending Natural Limits to Address Water Scarcity? The Role of Non-Conventional Water Fluxes in Climate Change Adaptation Capacity: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-31, February.
    6. Mounir, Adil & Mascaro, Giuseppe & White, Dave D., 2019. "A metropolitan scale analysis of the impacts of future electricity mix alternatives on the water-energy nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    7. Somayeh Rezaei Kalvani & Fulvio Celico, 2023. "The Water–Energy–Food Nexus in European Countries: A Review and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.

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