As the demand for freshwater and energy increases in San Diego County and Northern Baja, the fresh water supply continues to shrink while energy generation remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Due to these opposing trends in supply and demand, it becomes increasingly imperative to identify solutions that move these communities to their preferred state in which they are largely reliant on renewable energy and use water sustainably. Large-scale energy solutions include wind power, one of the must abundant sources of energy in these regions.

There are several different directions that our planet can take to address the ever growing need for water and energy. This will involve integrating technologies of a large and small scale into our grid and into our homes as well. There are two main technologies in which to address large scale water sustainability: desalination and ‘pure water’ recycling. As the California dries out, it is increasingly important to adopt proven strategies to maintain the current standard of living.

Melissa C. Lott

As any analyst will tell you, the power is in the data. To know where we are going, we first must know where we are. But, setting global energy baselines is anything but easy.

Global Energy Network International 
Summer Series: Geodesign 2015
SESSION 3 
- Thursday July 23 - "Maps tell the story of San Diego and Northern Baja. We are Connected"

Geodesign* - Engineering the Transition to
Renewable Energy and Clean Water for All

Andrew Higgins

KRAFLA, Iceland — Soon after work began here on a power plant to harness some of the vast reserves of energy stored at the earth’s crust, the ground moved and, along a six-mile-long fissure, began belching red-hot lava.

Around the world, more than 1 billion people lack access to electricity, concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Improving access to clean and affordable energy services for these populations will be a critical driver for poverty reduction as well as improved health and social outcomes.