A water resources model to explore the implications of energy alternatives in the southwestern US

Yates, David; Averyt, Kristen; Flores-López, F.; Meldrum, James R.; Sattler, Sandra; Sieber, Jack; Young, Charles A.

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/4/045004

Cited by 7 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The WRI data was employed in this first phase to demonstrate the efficacy of modeling different scenarios with respect to future water availability. Ultimately, the NWEM can be coupled to a more extensive water resource model such as the WEAP [22] or WRS models [30], which can consider climate change effects in a dynamic fashion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Multi-agent learning-based predictive models have also been suggested to investigate market level effects under stochastic demand conditions as well as under water and carbon dioxide taxes [20] [21]. The studies of Yates et al [22] [23] [24] include detailed modeling of local watersheds using the water evaluation and planning (WEAP) model along with thermoelectric water usage predicted by the regional energy deployment system (ReEDS). Stillwell [25] evaluated the regional water trade-offs in the state of Journal of Water Resource and Protection…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Water-Energy Prototype Model for the NEMS Modeling Platform: Thermoelectric Water Demand and Its Implications on Regional Electricity Market

Shuster¹,

Iyengar²,

Goudarzi³

et al. 2017

JWARP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A simplified energy-water prototype model has been developed at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) as a part of a larger effort to comprehensively model energy-water interactions. The NETL Water-Energy Model (NWEM) prototype passively couples a variety of data on water supply, water availability, and power plant water use with the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) power generation forecasts. NWEM operates at a watershed level and its efficacy in resolving local water supply and water-use trade-offs was demonstrated using data from Sandia National Laboratory along with a water supply scenario projected by the World Resources Institute (WRI). The prototype model only passively utilized a forecast of power generation from an existing forecast; the model's choices were limited to purchases or retrofitting to meet future water supply constraints. NETL is continuing to integrate the water sub-module into the NEMS framework, which will allow active interaction between the water market and power markets, extending the industry's ability to re-dispatch its generating units with the price of water as one of the variable costs.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water-Energy Prototype Model for the NEMS Modeling Platform: Thermoelectric Water Demand and Its Implications on Regional Electricity Market

Shuster¹,

Iyengar²,

Goudarzi³

et al. 2017

JWARP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The analysis described in this letter originates from the electricity-water modeling exercise for the southwestern United States described in Yates et al (2013) and (Sattler et al 2012). We describe the integration of the spatially explicit output of electricity mix scenarios developed with the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model (Short et al 2011) with a model of the southwestern US's regional water system implemented through the Water Evaluation and Planning system (WEAP; Yates et al 2005), which we refer to as WEAP-SW.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of future electricity mix alternatives on southwestern US water resources

Yates¹,

Meldrum²,

Averyt³

2013

Environ. Res. Lett.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A climate driven, water resource systems model of the southwestern US was used to explore the implications of growth, extended drought, and climate warming on the allocation of water among competing uses. The analysis focused on the water benefits from alternative thermoelectric generation mixes, but included other uses, namely irrigated agriculture, municipal indoor and outdoor use, and environmental and inter-state compact requirements. The model, referred to as WEAP-SW, was developed on the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) platform, and is scenario-based and forward projecting from 2008 to 2050. The scenario includes a southwest population that grows from about 55 million to more than 100 million, a prolonged dry period, and a long-term warming trend of 2 • C by mid-century. In addition, the scenario assumes that water allocation under shortage conditions would prioritize thermoelectric, environmental, and inter-state compacts by shorting first irrigated agriculture, then municipal demands.We show that while thermoelectric cooling water consumption is relatively small compared with other uses, the physical realities and the legal and institutional structures of water use in the region mean that relatively small differences in regional water use across different electricity mix scenarios correspond with more substantial impacts on individual basins and water use sectors. At a region-wide level, these choices influence the buffer against further water stress afforded the region through its generous storage capacity in reservoirs.

show abstract

“…Showing that low-carbon and low-water electricity production can go hand-in-hand, it drew substantially on the findings of the energy-water modeling and related research of Macknick et al (2012b), Sattler et al (2012), Clemmer et al (2013), Flores-López and Yates (2013) and Yates et al (2013aYates et al ( , 2013bYates et al ( , 2013c.…”

Section: Impact Of the Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerabilities and opportunities at the nexus of electricity, water and climate

Frumhoff

Burkett

Jackson

et al. 2015

Environ. Res. Lett.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The articles in this special issue examine the critical nexus of electricity, water, and climate, emphasizing connections among resources; the prospect of increasing vulnerabilities of water resources and electricity generation in a changing climate; and the opportunities for research to inform integrated energy and water policy and management measures aimed at reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience. Here, we characterize several major themes emerging from this research and highlight some of the uptake of this work in both scientific and public spheres. Underpinning much of this research is the recognition that water resources are expected to undergo substantial changes based on the global warming that results primarily from fossil energy-based carbon emissions. At the same time, the production of electricity from fossil fuels, nuclear power, and some renewable technologies (biomass, geothermal and concentrating solar power) can be highly water-intensive. Energy choices now and in the near future will have a major impact not just on the global climate, but also on water supplies and the resilience of energy systems that currently depend heavily on them.

show abstract

A water resources model to explore the implications of energy alternatives in the southwestern US

Cited by 7 publications

References 10 publications

Water-Energy Prototype Model for the NEMS Modeling Platform: Thermoelectric Water Demand and Its Implications on Regional Electricity Market

Water-Energy Prototype Model for the NEMS Modeling Platform: Thermoelectric Water Demand and Its Implications on Regional Electricity Market

The influence of future electricity mix alternatives on southwestern US water resources

Vulnerabilities and opportunities at the nexus of electricity, water and climate

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About