Digitalisation of the European water sector to foster the green and digital transitions

During the Digital Decade, the European Union (EU) is facing two important challenges: the green (and energy) transition and the digital transition, which are interconnected with one another. These transitions are of high relevance in the water sector, as water is always becoming more vulnerable to climate change (e.g., droughts and floods) and human activities (e.g., pollution and depletion). Hence, digital technologies are emerging as multi-benefit solutions to improve the sustainability of the water sector. In this study, some of the several economic benefits entailed by digital solutions are estimated with a focus on leakage reduction in water distribution networks, reduction of combined sewer overflows and on the improvement of hydropower generation and operation. The benefits are calculated for each EU Member State and the UK, and then aggregated at the EU scale. Benefits were quantified in EUR 5.0, 0.14 and 1.7 billion per year (EUR 13.2 per person per year, on average), respectively, excluding environmental and social benefits, which may play a non-negligible role.

QUARANTA Emanuele;  RAMOS Helena;  STEIN Ulf; 

2023-08-01

MDPI

JRC134099

2073-4441 (online),   

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/15/2785,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC134099,   

10.3390/w15152785 (online),