# Averting water wars as we decarbonize

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2022-09-15
- Length: 39m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-15-averting-water-wars-as-we-decarbonize

## Summary

Dr. Michael Webber, CTO at Energy Impact Partners and professor at UT Austin, discusses the intricate 'energy-water nexus' in his book *Thirst for Power*. He explains how energy is used to move and treat water, and how water is critical for cooling power plants, extracting fuels, and transporting energy via barges. Webber highlights vulnerabilities exposed by recent droughts in China and Germany, where low river levels halted coal shipments and strained hydropower, and warns that climate change intensifies these risks. He suggests that while decarbonization can reduce water intensity, the transition must carefully balance carbon goals with water constraints to avoid exacerbating resource scarcity.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-15-averting-water-wars-as-we-decarbonize#t=2) Introduction: The Energy-Water Nexus and Recent Crises
- [6:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-15-averting-water-wars-as-we-decarbonize#t=391) Using Energy for Water: Pumping, Treatment, and Costs
- [9:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-15-averting-water-wars-as-we-decarbonize#t=586) Using Water for Energy: Cooling, Extraction, and Transport
- [24:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-15-averting-water-wars-as-we-decarbonize#t=1442) Vulnerabilities: Droughts, Floods, and System Failures
- [28:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-15-averting-water-wars-as-we-decarbonize#t=1714) Decarbonization Choices: Water-Intensive vs. Water-Less Options
- [30:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-15-averting-water-wars-as-we-decarbonize#t=1800) Innovation: Cooling Tech, Desalination, and Water Markets
- [36:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-15-averting-water-wars-as-we-decarbonize#t=2167) Future Outlook: Water Wars and Efficiency

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- Thirst for Power (other)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)
- Foxconn (company)
- VW (company)
- National Science Foundation (company)
- Department of Energy (company)
- EIA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [232 - Talking COP28 and Climate Science with, you know, a climate scientist! Roger Pielke, Jr](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-12-07-232-talking-cop28-and-climate-science-with-you-know-a-climate-scientist-roger-pi) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-15-averting-water-wars-as-we-decarbonize. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.