Abstract

As you may know, the demand for energy has been growing and will continue to grow. Factors such as population growth, rising standards of living in developing countries, and newer trends like the increasing demand for data centers to support artificial intelligence tools will drive the need for abundant, reliable, and affordable energy. Energy is synonymous with prosperity, and to meet future demands, experts advocate for an “all of the above” energy strategy.

Simultaneously, the world faces the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This creates a dual challenge: producing more energy while reducing overall carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

An often-overlooked key enabler of our broad energy industry is water. Water and wastewater management are essential in nearly all forms of energy production and decarbonization. Given the finite amount of water on Earth and relatively small reserves of fresh water, it is crucial to use water wisely. Since we cannot create more water, we must meet demand through better global planning, process optimization, water reuse, and utilizing less conventional industrial water sources.

In this talk, I will discuss the interdependency of water and energy, including decarbonization efforts. I will delve into specific applications and highlight the critical role of chemical engineering in navigating these constraints to enable energy prosperity.

About the Speaker

Shiladitya Basu, P.E., Stantec

Shiladitya (Shil) Basu, P.E., is Principal and Business Center Practice Leader – Industrial Water at Stantec’s Water business, headquartered out of Houston. Over 19 years, he has led industrial water programs and worked on implementation of membrane-based solutions across energy, oil & gas, power, advanced manufacturing, and mission‑critical sectors—including data centers—combining technical design, project management, and stakeholder engagement. His portfolio covers process technologies, including membrane filtration, and industrial reuse strategies, and he has authored and presented work on water sourcing and circularity for large energy and infrastructure projects.

In Texas, Shil and his team have supported dozens of proposed datacenter facilities—working with owners, utilities, and regional managers to align cooling demand with sustainable water supplies. He is especially enthusiastic about the opportunity to use produced water as a resilient source for datacenter cooling in West Texas: what treatment trains are required, how quality targets map to cooling technologies, and where policy mechanisms—such as Texas’s industrial reuse framework—enable fit‑for‑purpose infrastructure development. He’ll also outline practical permitting and partnership models that can de‑risk schedules while delivering community infrastructure benefits.