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Global scenarios for significant water use reduction in thermal power plants based on cooling water demand estimation using satellite imagery

Author

Listed:
  • Alena Lohrmann

    (LUT University)

  • Javier Farfan

    (LUT University)

  • Upeksha Caldera

    (LUT University)

  • Christoph Lohrmann

    (LUT University)

  • Christian Breyer

    (LUT University)

Abstract

Connecting research on the water demand of power plants with mitigation strategies for energy-based water use is an important step to ensure global water and energy security, and thus provide more sustainable use of both. Here, we assess the water footprint of 13,863 thermal power plants units with a total active capacity of 4,182 GW worldwide and give an estimate of the current water demand for power production at four different levels—global, regional, country and river. Furthermore, we provide a projection for the energy transition period towards a net zero greenhouse gas emissions economy by 2050. In particular, we show that by following a ‘Best Policies Scenario’ the water consumption of global power plants can be decreased by about 98%, and water withdrawal by 95% by 2050. Therefore, the suggested pathway provides one potential solution to the problem of water depletion that results from the water-energy nexus.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:4:y:2019:i:12:d:10.1038_s41560-019-0501-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-019-0501-4
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. 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).
    2. Li, Haoran & Cui, Xueqin & Hui, Jingxuan & He, Gang & Weng, Yuwei & Nie, Yaoyu & Wang, Can & Cai, Wenjia, 2021. "Catchment-level water stress risk of coal power transition in China under 2℃/1.5℃ targets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    3. Gonzalez Sanchez, Rocio & Seliger, Roman & Fahl, Fernando & De Felice, Luca & Ouarda, Taha B.M.J. & Farinosi, Fabio, 2020. "Freshwater use of the energy sector in Africa," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    4. Wang, Zhaohua & Zhang, Hongzhi & Li, Hao & Wang, Song & Wang, Zhenpo, 2023. "Identifying the key factors to China's unsustainable external circulation through the accounting of the flow of embodied energy and virtual water," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    5. Andreas Fazekas & Christopher Bataille & Adrien Vogt-Schilb, 2022. "Achieving net-zero prosperity: how governments can unlock 15 essential transformations," Post-Print halshs-03742125, HAL.
    6. Abdelrahman Azzuni & Christian Breyer, 2020. "Global Energy Security Index and Its Application on National Level," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-49, May.
    7. Oyewo, Ayobami S. & Aghahosseini, Arman & Movsessian, Maria M. & Breyer, Christian, 2024. "A novel geothermal-PV led energy system analysis on the case of the central American countries Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    8. Elena Helerea & Marius D. Calin & Cristian Musuroi, 2023. "Water Energy Nexus and Energy Transition—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-31, February.
    9. 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).
    10. Abdelrahman Azzuni & Arman Aghahosseini & Manish Ram & Dmitrii Bogdanov & Upeksha Caldera & Christian Breyer, 2020. "Energy Security Analysis for a 100% Renewable Energy Transition in Jordan by 2050," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-26, June.
    11. 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).
    12. Ashish Gulagi & Manish Ram & Dmitrii Bogdanov & Sandeep Sarin & Theophilus Nii Odai Mensah & Christian Breyer, 2022. "The role of renewables for rapid transitioning of the power sector across states in India," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    13. 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).

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