IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v233y2021ics0360544221013463.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of the water footprint for the European power sector during the transition towards a 100% renewable energy system

Author

Listed:
  • Lohrmann, Alena
  • Child, Michael
  • Breyer, Christian

Abstract

The transition towards a 100% renewable energy system may be an opportunity to resolve the water-energy nexus. However, deployment of some technologies might impose additional strain on water ecosystems. An energy-system-wide analysis of water demand in Europe was performed for the period 2015–2050 using the LUT Energy System Transition model for two scenarios: Area (with electricity interconnections) and Regions (without). For fossil-fuelled power plants, the water footprint in 20 European regions may decrease considerably until 2050, by 28.3% in the ‘Area scenario’ and 24.2% in the ‘Regions scenario’. However, total water demand in the Area scenario increases in 5 regions on average by 14%, from 7% (Balkan-West countries) to 24% (Sweden). Further, Turkey, Norway and Sweden may have the largest water demands in Europe due to the commissioning of new hydropower plants. Results indicate discussions on the sustainability of energy transition scenarios should be expanded to include water footprint.

Suggested Citation

  • Lohrmann, Alena & Child, Michael & Breyer, Christian, 2021. "Assessment of the water footprint for the European power sector during the transition towards a 100% renewable energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:233:y:2021:i:c:s0360544221013463
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.121098
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544221013463
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121098?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gleick, Peter H., 1992. "Environmental consequences of hydroelectric development: The role of facility size and type," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 17(8), pages 735-747.
    2. Child, Michael & Kemfert, Claudia & Bogdanov, Dmitrii & Breyer, Christian, 2019. "Flexible electricity generation, grid exchange and storage for the transition to a 100% renewable energy system in Europe," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 139, pages 80-101.
    3. Alena Lohrmann & Javier Farfan & Upeksha Caldera & Christoph Lohrmann & Christian Breyer, 2019. "Global scenarios for significant water use reduction in thermal power plants based on cooling water demand estimation using satellite imagery," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(12), pages 1040-1048, December.
    4. Marta Victoria & Kun Zhu & Tom Brown & Gorm B. Andresen & Martin Greiner, 2020. "Early decarbonisation of the European energy system pays off," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Wu, X.D. & Chen, G.Q., 2017. "Energy and water nexus in power generation: The surprisingly high amount of industrial water use induced by solar power infrastructure in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 125-136.
    6. Siddiqi, Afreen & Anadon, Laura Diaz, 2011. "The water-energy nexus in Middle East and North Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(8), pages 4529-4540, August.
    7. Löffler, Konstantin & Burandt, Thorsten & Hainsch, Karlo & Oei, Pao-Yu, 2019. "Modeling the low-carbon transition of the European energy system - A quantitative assessment of the stranded assets problem," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 26, pages 1-15.
    8. de Groot, Mats & Crijns-Graus, Wina & Harmsen, Robert, 2017. "The effects of variable renewable electricity on energy efficiency and full load hours of fossil-fired power plants in the European Union," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 575-589.
    9. Hansen, Kenneth & Breyer, Christian & Lund, Henrik, 2019. "Status and perspectives on 100% renewable energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 471-480.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Matsui, Kohei & Lin, Jie & Thu, Kyaw & Miyazaki, Takahiko, 2022. "On the performance improvement of an inverted Brayton Cycle using a regenerative heat and mass exchanger," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    2. Marcelo Werneck Barbosa & José M. Cansino, 2022. "A Water Footprint Management Construct in Agri-Food Supply Chains: A Content Validity Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Xu, Zhongwen & Tan, Shiqi & Yao, Liming & Lv, Chengwei, 2024. "Exploring water-saving potentials of US electric power transition while thirsting for carbon neutrality," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    4. Stanisław Tokarski & Małgorzata Magdziarczyk & Adam Smoliński, 2021. "Risk Management Scenarios for Investment Program Delays in the Polish Power Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-10, August.
    5. Sebastian Naranjo-Silva & Diego Punina-Guerrero & Luis Rivera-Gonzalez & Kenny Escobar-Segovia & Jose David Barros-Enriquez & Jorge Armando Almeida-Dominguez & Javier Alvarez del Castillo, 2023. "Hydropower Scenarios in the Face of Climate Change in Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Lohrmann, Alena & Farfan, Javier & Lohrmann, Christoph & Kölbel, Julian Fritz & Pettersson, Frank, 2023. "Troubled waters: Estimating the role of the power sector in future water scarcity crises," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    7. Li, Hang & Ma, Hongling & Zhao, Kai & Zhu, Shijie & Yang, Kun & Zeng, Zhen & Zheng, Zhuyan & Yang, Chunhe, 2024. "Parameter design of the compressed air energy storage salt cavern in highly impure rock salt formations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    8. Ram, Manish & Gulagi, Ashish & Aghahosseini, Arman & Bogdanov, Dmitrii & Breyer, Christian, 2022. "Energy transition in megacities towards 100% renewable energy: A case for Delhi," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 578-589.
    9. Mariia Kozlova & Alena Lohrmann, 2021. "Steering Renewable Energy Investments in Favor of Energy System Reliability: A Call for a Hybrid Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-18, December.
    10. Liang, M.S. & Huang, G.H. & Chen, J.P. & Li, Y.P., 2022. "Development of non-deterministic energy-water-carbon nexus planning model: A case study of Shanghai, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    11. Acaroğlu, Hakan & García Márquez, Fausto Pedro, 2022. "High voltage direct current systems through submarine cables for offshore wind farms: A life-cycle cost analysis with voltage source converters for bulk power transmission," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    12. Yu, Bolin & Fang, Debin & Xiao, Kun & Pan, Yuling, 2023. "Drivers of renewable energy penetration and its role in power sector's deep decarbonization towards carbon peak," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jäger-Waldau, Arnulf & Kougias, Ioannis & Taylor, Nigel & Thiel, Christian, 2020. "How photovoltaics can contribute to GHG emission reductions of 55% in the EU by 2030," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    2. Henning Meschede & Paul Bertheau & Siavash Khalili & Christian Breyer, 2022. "A review of 100% renewable energy scenarios on islands," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(6), November.
    3. Satymov, Rasul & Bogdanov, Dmitrii & Breyer, Christian, 2022. "Global-local analysis of cost-optimal onshore wind turbine configurations considering wind classes and hub heights," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    4. Lopez, Gabriel & Aghahosseini, Arman & Child, Michael & Khalili, Siavash & Fasihi, Mahdi & Bogdanov, Dmitrii & Breyer, Christian, 2022. "Impacts of model structure, framework, and flexibility on perspectives of 100% renewable energy transition decision-making," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    5. Gawlick, Julia & Hamacher, Thomas, 2023. "Impact of coupling the electricity and hydrogen sector in a zero-emission European energy system in 2050," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    6. Kougias, Ioannis & Taylor, Nigel & Kakoulaki, Georgia & Jäger-Waldau, Arnulf, 2021. "The role of photovoltaics for the European Green Deal and the recovery plan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    7. Caldera, Upeksha & Breyer, Christian, 2020. "Strengthening the global water supply through a decarbonised global desalination sector and improved irrigation systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    8. Oei, Pao-Yu & Hermann, Hauke & Herpich, Philipp & Holtemöller, Oliver & Lünenbürger, Benjamin & Schult, Christoph, 2020. "Coal phase-out in Germany – Implications and policies for affected regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    9. Kemfert, Claudia & Präger, Fabian & Braunger, Isabell & Hoffart, Franziska M. & Brauers, Hanna, 2022. "The expansion of natural gas infrastructure puts energy transitions at risk," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 7, pages 582-587.
    10. Galván, Antonio & Haas, Jannik & Moreno-Leiva, Simón & Osorio-Aravena, Juan Carlos & Nowak, Wolfgang & Palma-Benke, Rodrigo & Breyer, Christian, 2022. "Exporting sunshine: Planning South America’s electricity transition with green hydrogen," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    11. Copp, David A. & Nguyen, Tu A. & Byrne, Raymond H. & Chalamala, Babu R., 2022. "Optimal sizing of distributed energy resources for planning 100% renewable electric power systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    12. Papadis, Elisa & Tsatsaronis, George, 2020. "Challenges in the decarbonization of the energy sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    13. Abdelrahman Azzuni & Christian Breyer, 2020. "Global Energy Security Index and Its Application on National Level," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-49, May.
    14. Abuzayed, Anas & Hartmann, Niklas, 2022. "MyPyPSA-Ger: Introducing CO2 taxes on a multi-regional myopic roadmap of the German electricity system towards achieving the 1.5 °C target by 2050," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    15. Bogdanov, Dmitrii & Ram, Manish & Aghahosseini, Arman & Gulagi, Ashish & Oyewo, Ayobami Solomon & Child, Michael & Caldera, Upeksha & Sadovskaia, Kristina & Farfan, Javier & De Souza Noel Simas Barbos, 2021. "Low-cost renewable electricity as the key driver of the global energy transition towards sustainability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    16. Schrader, Simon Elias & Benth, Fred Espen, 2022. "A stochastic study of carbon emission reduction from electrification and interconnecting cable utilization. The Norway and Germany case," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    17. Osorio-Aravena, Juan Carlos & Aghahosseini, Arman & Bogdanov, Dmitrii & Caldera, Upeksha & Ghorbani, Narges & Mensah, Theophilus Nii Odai & Haas, Jannik & Muñoz-Cerón, Emilio & Breyer, Christian, 2023. "Synergies of electrical and sectoral integration: Analysing geographical multi-node scenarios with sector coupling variations for a transition towards a fully renewables-based energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    18. Sarmiento, Luis & Burandt, Thorsten & Löffler, Konstantin & Oei, Pao-Yu, 2019. "Analyzing Scenarios for the Integration of Renewable Energy Sources in the Mexican Energy System," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 12(2019), pages 1-1.
    19. Icaza, Daniel & Borge-Diez, David & Galindo, Santiago Pulla, 2022. "Analysis and proposal of energy planning and renewable energy plans in South America: Case study of Ecuador," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 314-342.
    20. Kleinebrahm, Max & Weinand, Jann Michael & Naber, Elias & McKenna, Russell & Ardone, Armin, 2023. "Analysing municipal energy system transformations in line with national greenhouse gas reduction strategies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:233:y:2021:i:c:s0360544221013463. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.