The energy–water nexus: Water use trends in sustainable energy and opportunities for materials research and development

Ku, Anthony Y.; Shapiro, Andrew P.

doi:10.1557/mrs.2012.39

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The analysis indicated that the cost of water would need to increase to $2.50 MW −1 to support an NGCC plant with dry cooling. The importance of assessing the cost of conserved water to evaluate different drought proofing options was also emphasized in previous studies [51].…”

Section: How Can We Enhance Resilience Of Thermoelectric Generation Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Drought and the water–energy nexus in Texas

Scanlon

Duncan

Reedy

2013

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Texas experienced the most extreme drought on record in 2011 with up to 100 days of triple digit temperatures resulting in record electricity demand and historically low reservoir levels. We quantified water and electricity demand and supply for each power plant during the drought relative to 2010 (baseline). Drought raised electricity demands/generation by 6%, increasing water demands/consumption for electricity by 9%. Reductions in monitored reservoir storage <50% of capacity in 2011 would suggest drought vulnerability, but data show that the power plants were flexible enough at the plant level to adapt by switching to less water-intensive technologies. Natural gas, now ∼50% of power generation in Texas, enhances drought resilience by increasing the flexibility of power plant generators, including gas combustion turbines to complement increasing wind generation and combined cycle generators with ∼30% of cooling water requirements of traditional steam turbine plants. These reductions in water use are projected to continue to 2030 with increased use of natural gas and renewables. Although water use for gas production is controversial, these data show that water saved by using natural gas combined cycle plants relative to coal steam turbine plants is 25-50 times greater than the amount of water used in hydraulic fracturing to extract the gas.

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Section: How Can We Enhance Resilience Of Thermoelectric Generation Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several technological advances are being researched for using these non-traditional water sources for electricity generation [51]. Additional energy penalties are incurred because energy is required to treat and transport the water.…”

Section: Increasing Electric and Water Suppliesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drought and the water–energy nexus in Texas

Scanlon

Duncan

Reedy

2013

Environ. Res. Lett.

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“…17 Because of long lifespans of power plants, current power plant choices may impact water resources for decades into the future. Many studies show that different aspects of power plants, such as energy source, generator technology, or cooling system have varying water requirements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controls on Water Use for Thermoelectric Generation: Case Study Texas, U.S.

Scanlon

Reedy

Duncan

et al. 2013

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Large-scale U.S. dependence on thermoelectric (steam electric) generation requiring water for cooling underscores the need to understand controls on this water use. The study objective was to quantify water consumption and withdrawal for thermoelectric generation, identifying controls, using Texas as a case study. Water consumption for thermoelectricity in Texas in 2010 totaled ∼0.43 million acre feet (maf; 0.53 km3), accounting for ∼4% of total state water consumption. High water withdrawals (26.2 maf, 32.3 km3) mostly reflect circulation between ponds and power plants, with only two-thirds of this water required for cooling. Controls on water consumption include (1) generator technology/thermal efficiency and (2) cooling system, resulting in statewide consumption intensity for natural gas combined cycle generators with mostly cooling towers (0.19 gal/kWh) being 63% lower than that of traditional coal, nuclear, or natural gas steam turbine generators with mostly cooling ponds (0.52 gal/kWh). The primary control on water withdrawals is cooling system, with ∼2 orders of magnitude lower withdrawals for cooling towers relative to once-through ponds statewide. Increases in natural gas combined cycle plants with cooling towers in response to high production of low-cost natural gas has greatly reduced water demand for thermoelectric cooling since 2000.

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“…If you are interested in further reading on sustainability, I encourage you to read the MRS Bulletin issue on "Materials for Sustainable Development" (April 2012). 32 I also suggest the special section on "Rethinking the Global Supply Chain" (Science 344, 1100 [2014]). …”

Section: Features Posterminariesmentioning

confidence: 99%