Reducing Energy Burden and Flood Damage Using Energy-Water Nexus Approach

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative, original approach to co-design retention ponds and floating photo voltaic solar plants as a water-energy nexus approach to reduce flooding and energy burden for one location. Case-study analysis was conducted in Waimanalo, Hawai’i. A flood model—from a previous study—was used provide a potential location for a retention pond and floating solar photovoltaic panels. This study found the co-design of retention ponds and floating PV solar can not only reduce future stormwater runoff by up to 50% but provide a total of 50% of onsite solar energy at a neighbourhood scale, demonstrating how clean energy and green infrastructure can help advance environmental and social justice. Several takeaways from this study were taken into account and things to consider for a follow-up paper. One of the major challenges was finding a potential suitable location. Overcoming this challenge required using Google Maps and the flood model to pinpoint high flood accumulation and searching for a large green space that is in close vicinity to a developed neighbourhood. 

Keywords

• clean energy
• green infrastructure; disadvantaged communities; environmental justice; flood mitigation; energy burden; retention pond; floating solar