Scenarios for Low Carbon and Low Water Electric Power Plant Operations: Implications for Upstream Water Use.

ABSTRACT: Electric sector water use, in particular for thermoelectric operations, is a critical component of the water-energy nexus. On a life cycle basis per unit of electricity generated, operational (e.g., cooling system) water use is substantially higher than water demands for the fuel cycle (e.g., natural gas and coal) and power plant manufacturing (e.g., equipment and construction). However, could shifting toward low carbon and low water electric power operations create trade-offs across the electricity life cycle? We compare business-as-usual with scenarios of carbon reductions and water constraints using the MARKet ALlocation (MARKAL) energy system model. Our scenarios show that, for water withdrawals, the trade-offs are minimal: operational water use accounts for over 95% of life cycle with

SUBMITTER: Dodder RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7364179 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature