Retirement of US fossil fuel-fired power plants will increase water availability

Siddik, Md Abu Bakar; Grubert, Emily; Caldwell, Peter V.; Marston, Landon

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128984

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Water availability and temperature concerns are also significant in regions dependent on nuclear power. PJM included 19 [76]. The power plants with the highest net generation in MISO are primarily coal and nuclear power plants.…”

Section: Major Implications Of Blue and Grey Virtual Water Transfersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Major Implications Of Blue and Grey Virtual Water Transfersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The retirement of fossil fuel power plants will change the blue and grey water footprints of electricity in the future [19,90]. One study estimated that between 2018 and 2035, 50% of the fossil fuel-fired power plants would retire, reducing water withdrawals by 85% and water consumption by 68% [19]. The energy transition will likely reduce water use, but by how much and where will depend on the fuels and technologies implemented to replace the loss in generation from fossil-fuel power plants.…”

Section: Major Implications Of Blue and Grey Virtual Water Transfersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One study predicted a thermoelectric power plant summer capacity decrease of 4.4%-16% for 2031-2060 in the United States, along with extreme capacity reductions increasing by a factor of three [17]. Increased penetration of renewable electricity generation, such as photovoltaic solar and wind, may decrease operational water demands for electricity [19,20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Monthly virtual water transfers on the U.S. electric grid

Nugent,

Chini,

Peer

et al. 2023

Environ. Res.: Infrastruct. Sustain.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Water consumed by power plants is transferred virtually from producers to consumers on the electric grid. This network of virtual transfers varies spatially and temporally on a sub-annual scale. In this study, we focused on cooling water consumed by thermoelectric power plants and water evaporated from hydropower reservoirs. We analyzed blue and grey virtual water flows between balancing authorities in the United States electric grid from 2016 to 2021. Transfers were calculated using thermoelectric water consumption volumes reported in Form EIA-923, power plant data from Form EIA-860, water consumption factors from literature, and electricity transfer data from Form EIA-930. The results indicate that virtual water transfers follow seasonal trends. Virtual blue water transfers are dominated by evaporation from hydropower reservoirs in high evaporation regions and peak around November. Virtual grey watertransfers reach a maximum peak during the summer months and a smaller peak during the winter. Notable virtual blue water transfers occur between Arizona and California as well as surrounding regions in the Southwest. Virtual grey water transfers are greatest in the Eastern United States where older, once-through cooling systems are still in operation. Understanding the spatial and temporal transfer of water resources has important policy, water management, and equity implications for understanding burden shifts between regions.

show abstract

Section: Major Implications Of Blue and Grey Virtual Water Transfersmentioning

confidence: 99%