The Water-Energy Nexus in Europe and Spain: An Institutional Analysis From the Perspective of the Spanish Irrigation Sector

The concurrent reform of the water and energy policy at the European and Spanish levels has led many irrigation communities in Spain to a crisis of financial sustainability. The promotion of water efficiency via sprinkler and drip irrigation investments has contributed to an increase in energy dependence by farmers. The liberalization of the energy sector has partially resulted in a structural problem of high electricity prices in the country. Institutional responses from irrigation communities include the adaptation of irrigation schedules to energy price schedules, the commissioning of energy audits, the collective purchase of energy, and the self-organization for auto-production. Basin, regional, and national authorities have focused on supporting the communities' initiatives and better integrating irrigation and energy regulations. Remaining institutional challenges include a water rights reform, the participation of local stakeholders in energy planning, and the promotion of a distributed energy network within Spain and at the European level.