The technical workshop ‘Water-Energy Nexus’, organized by the Plataforma Solar de Almería-CIEMAT and the Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC) within the framework of the European project SOL2H2O, took place on Monday, June 23, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife as a prelude to the 14th International AEDyR Congress.
The aim of the workshop was to analyze the challenges of the water-energy nexus, with special focus on decarbonization and process optimization in the integrated water cycle, while considering the applicable regulations (urban water supply and distribution, desalination, wastewater treatment, and agricultural reuse).
In the SOL2H2O workshop, representatives from AEDyR, BALTEN, TAGUA, and Gorona del Viento, as well as ITC and PSA-CIEMAT, shared experiences and success stories related to decarbonizing the water sector and presented advanced solutions in water treatment and production aligned with European and national regulations on quality and safety.
SOL2H2O Workshop within the framework of the 14th International AEDyR Congress
The workshop opened with Guillermo Zaragoza, director of PSA-CIEMAT, who presented the objectives of the SOL2H2O project, focused on strengthening scientific cooperation between Spain, Portugal, and Italy to advance sustainable technological solutions for water production and treatment powered by solar energy. He highlighted that the water sector accounts for around 7% of Spain’s total electricity consumption, and showcased pilot systems for solar desalination, brine treatment, and wastewater reuse using renewable-powered photoreactors.
Noemí Sánchez (AEDyR) outlined the main challenges of new European directives on urban wastewater treatment and reuse. She analyzed the growing energy demands to achieve carbon neutrality, while ensuring reclaimed water meets quality requirements for intended uses. She emphasized the environmental, human health, and animal health protection goals, the need to expand renewable energy production to increase efficiency, and the opportunities of the circular economy (biogas, brine recovery). She also stressed the urgency to increase the reuse rate of treated water in Spain (currently only 7–13%).
From an island perspective, Moisés Romero (BALTEN) shared Tenerife’s progress in decarbonizing agricultural irrigation water supply through the DEWITEN project (Horizon 2020), including floating photovoltaic platforms, reaching over 1 MWp installed capacity (15% of annual demand).
Gerardo Ávila (TAGUA) addressed the technical, economic, and social obstacles in water treatment and reuse, pointing out current inefficiencies in industrial water treatment due to outdated technologies and lack of incentives, while noting efficiency opportunities in desalination through automation, new-generation membranes, and brine valorization.
Candelaria Sánchez (Gorona del Viento) presented El Hierro’s pioneering hydro-wind reversible power plant, which enabled the island to drastically cut fossil fuel dependence, becoming a global reference in insular sustainability.
Baltasar Peñate (ITC) and Guillermo Zaragoza introduced the roadmap of desalination Living Labs in Spain (DESAL+ LIVING LAB and LIVING LAB DESALACIÓN SOSTENIBLE), promoting technology transfer and public-private collaboration to accelerate innovation in the water-energy nexus.
The workshop concluded with a plenary debate, collecting inputs from companies, research centers, and public administrations, identifying common challenges and strategic priorities toward a more efficient, resilient, and environmentally respectful water management model.
The SOL2H2O workshop, held ahead of the 14th International AEDyR Congress, highlights the strategic importance of the Canary Islands in the history and future of desalination in Spain. The archipelago not only hosted Europe’s first desalination plant (Arrecife, 1965) but today has the highest density of desalination plants per km², essential for supplying most islands. Conceived as a technical and participatory side event to the official Congress program, the workshop brought together over 430 national and international professionals linked to desalination, water reuse, and treatment during the Congress held in Tenerife from June 24–26.
The AEDyR Congress, returning to the Canary Islands in the context of the 60th anniversary of desalination in Spain, will gather hundreds of experts, researchers, and professionals over three days to debate the latest innovations and sustainable solutions for major water management challenges.
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