Water and Power Systems Integration

NLR researchers evaluate synergies between energy and water infrastructure to identify opportunities where greater integration can lead to mutual benefits and improved reliability.

Photo of a hydropower dam with a rainbow in the background.

Capabilities

NLR offers the following capabilities to support water and power systems integration in addressing the energy-water-land nexus.

NLR created a modeling and analysis framework and a visualization tool to help power grid stakeholders better understand how water risk factors, such as droughts and heavy rainfall, might impact their availability and assets across local, regional, and national systems.

NLR evaluates the flexibility of water infrastructure and water treatment technologies to provide essential services to the electric grid. NLR also investigates operational constraints on water treatment systems. This flexibility in load demand and generation can reduce energy costs and availability for water facilities while improving grid flexibility and reliability.

NLR designs and evaluates co-optimized energy-water systems for buildings, campuses, cities, military bases, regions, agricultural systems, and remote communities. We have developed multiple research tools to evaluate trade-offs at these scales.

NLR performs technology-neutral analysis to inform technology development, validate performance, and support deployment of emerging water treatment technologies and their integration with cost-effective, efficient energy systems. Our efforts have explored water treatment powered by different energy resources and waste heat from power, agricultural, and industrial applications.

Emerging Areas

  • Cybersecurity
  • Advanced sensor technology and communications
  • Automated controls

Publications

Preparing the Power Sector To Navigate Climate and Water Risks, NLR Fact Sheet (2022)

Optimization Framework to Assess the Demand Response Capacity of a Water Distribution System, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management (2020)

Opportunities and Barriers for Renewable and Distributed Energy Resource Development at Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities, Report No. 4625, The Water Research Foundation Report (2019)

Energy-Water Microgrid Opportunity Analysis at the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 Facility, NLR Technical Report (2018)

Analysis of a Wave-Powered, Reverse-Osmosis System and Its Economic Availability in the United States Preprint, American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ International Conference on Ocean, Offshore, and Arctic Engineering (2017)

Contact

Jennifer Daw

Strategy, Policy, and Implementation Group Manager

[email protected]

Last Updated Dec. 7, 2025