The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region stands out globally both for the
immensity of its energy resources, and the paucity of its freshwater resources. Most energy
extraction and conversion technologies have associated freshwater demand, and in the MENA
region these account for 2 % of the available sustainable supply. We examine how this demand
could change over the 21st century, assuming growth in population and economic output, and
considering three alternative pathways for energy efficiency, carbon intensity, and energy
exports from the region. We find that in the pathway marked by improved efficiency, a
transition to renewable energy sources, and declining energy exports, water consumption for
energy is twice as high as today’s values by the end of the century. By contrast, in the pathway
marked by continued commitment to fossil resource extraction, use, and export, water demand
for energy might rise by a factor of five. If the region were to maintain high levels of energy
exports, but would substitute the export of fossil fuels by an equivalent amount of electricity
derived from sunlight, a freshwater volume comparable to the household needs of up to 195
million people could be saved.