Water Resource Challenges in the Renewable Energy Transition: A Life Cycle and Climate Nexus Perspective

Abstract

Water resources management faces unprecedented challenges in the renewable energy transition process. This paper systematically analyzes the impacts of green energy technologies, including solar, wind, hydropower and bioenergy, on water resources from an energy life-cycle perspective, covering the dimensions of water extraction, water consumption, water pollution and ecosystem disturbance. The study found that, despite the significant advantages of renewable energy in terms of carbon reduction, some technologies (e.g., hydropower and biomass) have a high-water footprint during the operation or feedstock production phase, and may lead to deterioration of water quality, ecosystem fragmentation, and regional conflicts, especially in water-stressed areas. In addition, climate change is altering both water availability and renewable energy generation efficiency, exacerbating the risks of water-energy-climate coupling and creating negative feedback loops. The article emphasizes that to achieve a truly sustainable green transition, it is necessary to advance interdisciplinary integration of policymaking, low water-dependency technological innovations, and prioritize the deployment of energy systems with a low water footprint in water-stressed regions. Future research should focus on integrated governance and technological synergies under the water-energy-climate linkage mechanism to crack the structural contradiction between resource and environmental pressures and energy development.