Critical Review: Uncharted Waters? The Future of the Electricity-Water Nexus

Sanders, Kelly T.

doi:10.1021/es504293b

Cited by 116 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 132 publications

(358 reference statements)

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“…Federal tax credits similarly foster investment in various fuels. Cooling systems are affected by policy like section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, which aims to reduce the impact of water withdrawals on aquatic organisms [38]. State implementation varies, leading to further differentiation.…”

Section: Policy Drivers and Implications Of Variability In Water Consmentioning

confidence: 99%

A regional assessment of the water embedded in the US electricity system

Peer

Grubert

Sanders

2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Water consumption from electricity systems can be large, and it varies greatly by region. As electricity systems change, understanding the implications for water demand is important, given differential water availability. This letter presents regional water consumption and consumptive intensities for the United States electric grid by region using a 2014 base year, based on the 26 regions in the Environmental Protection Agency's Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database. Estimates encompass operational (i.e. not embodied in fixed assets) water consumption from fuel extraction through conversion, calculated as the sum of induced water consumption for processes upstream of the point of generation (PoG) and water consumed at the PoG. Absolute water consumption and consumptive intensity is driven by thermal power plant cooling requirements. Regional consumption intensities vary by roughly a factor of 20. This variability is largely attributed to water consumption upstream of the PoG, particularly evaporation from reservoirs associated with hydroelectricity. Solar and wind generation, which are expected to continue to grow rapidly, consume very little water and could drive lower water consumption over time. As the electricity grid continues to change in response to policy, economic, and climatic drivers, understanding potential impacts on local water resources can inform changes.

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Section: Policy Drivers and Implications Of Variability In Water Consmentioning

confidence: 99%

A regional assessment of the water embedded in the US electricity system

Peer

Grubert

Sanders

2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

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“…Facing pressing local health penalties and global climate change pressures, China has taken actions to reduce its power sector's reliance on coal, by either transforming its energy portfolio or improving coal-burning efficiencies. Sanders (2015) has conducted a meta-analysis of existing publications in the water-electricity field and identified five main aspects of the power sector that have impacts on its water uses: (1) fuel consumption structure;…”

Section: Effects Of Energy Transformationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides hydropower, a large amount of water is used at thermoelectric power facilities for cooling purposes (Vassolo and Doll 2005, Stillwell et al 2011, Byers et al 2014, Grubert and Webber 2015, Sanders 2015, Stillwell et al 2017. Consequently, global power productions may be exposed to water-related risks, especially under a changing climate (van Vliet et al 2012, Byers et al 2016, van Vliet et al 2016.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of water use in China’s electric power sector from 2000 to 2015

Liao

Hall

2018

Environ. Res. Lett.

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This study, for the first time, investigates the historical changes of the water use in China's electric power sector on a regional level and quantifies the impacts of four factors that have influenced the remarkable changes: population, power production per capita, power plants' type and their cooling technology choice. From 2000 to 2015, water withdrawal and consumption in China's electric power sector, excluding hydropower, have increased from 40.75 and 1.25 billion m 3 , respectively, to 124.06 and 4.86 billion m 3 . As population growth in China has stabilized, population no longer provides an upward pressure on power production and the corresponding water use. On the contrary, power production per capita has played the most significant role contributing to 103.40 and 3.84 billion m 3 of water withdrawal and consumption increases respectively, though the effect is now leveling off. The electric power sector's water use would have been much greater had it not been for changes in plant type and cooling water technology. Energy transformation to low-carbon sources has mitigated water withdrawals and consumption by 14.46 and 0.43 billion m 3 respectively during the study period. This beneficial reduction in water use is a co-benefit of a series of policies primarily aimed to reduce carbon emissions and other air pollutants. Changing cooling technologies has offset 14.07 and 0.10 billion m 3 of water withdrawal and consumption increases nationally, but the effects varied by region.

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“…Power plants with once-through (OT) cooling technologies account for 64% of water withdrawals for electricity generation in the US and cause thermal pollution, which degrades riverine ecosystems [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%