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Title: Vulnerabilities and opportunities at the nexus of electricity, water and climate

Journal Article · · Environmental Research Letters
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6]
  1. Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, MA (United States)
  2. United States Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)
  3. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
  4. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  5. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
  6. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

The articles in this special issue examine the critical nexus of electricity, water, and climate, emphasizing connections among resources; the prospect of increasing vulnerabilities of water resources and electricity generation in a changing climate; and the opportunities for research to inform integrated energy and water policy and management measures aimed at increasing resilience. Here, we characterize several major themes emerging from this research and highlight some of the uptake of this work in both scientific and public spheres. Underpinning much of this research is the recognition that water resources are expected to undergo substantial changes based on the global warming that results primarily from fossil energy-based carbon emissions. At the same time, the production of electricity from fossil fuels, nuclear power, and some renewable technologies (biomass, geothermal and concentrating solar power) can be highly water-intensive. Energy choices now and in the near future will have a major impact not just on the global climate, but also on water supplies and the resilience of energy systems that currently depend heavily on them.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1245543
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-6A70-64380
Journal Information:
Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 10, Issue 8; Related Information: Environmental Research Letters; ISSN 1748-9326
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 18 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (19)

Assessing the Risk of Persistent Drought Using Climate Model Simulations and Paleoclimate Data journal October 2014
The potential impacts of climate-change policy on freshwater use in thermoelectric power generation journal October 2011
Modeling low-carbon US electricity futures to explore impacts on national and regional water use journal January 2013
Unprecedented 21st century drought risk in the American Southwest and Central Plains journal February 2015
Anthropogenic warming has increased drought risk in California journal March 2015
A water system model for exploring electric energy alternatives in southeastern US basins journal September 2013
How unusual is the 2012-2014 California drought?: GRIFFIN AND ANCHUKAITIS journal December 2014
Can switching fuels save water? A life cycle quantification of freshwater consumption for Texas coal- and natural gas-fired electricity journal October 2012
Thermal effluent from the power sector: an analysis of once-through cooling system impacts on surface water temperature journal July 2013
Life cycle water use for electricity generation: a review and harmonization of literature estimates journal March 2013
Riverine ecosystem services and the thermoelectric sector: strategic issues facing the Northeastern United States journal May 2013
Changing the spatial location of electricity generation to increase water availability in areas with drought: a feasibility study and quantification of air quality impacts in Texas journal August 2013
Linking electricity and water models to assess electricity choices at water-relevant scales journal December 2012
Drought and the water–energy nexus in Texas journal December 2013
Electricity for groundwater use: constraints and opportunities for adaptive response to climate change journal July 2013
Horizontal cooling towers: riverine ecosystem services and the fate of thermoelectric heat in the contemporary Northeast US journal April 2013
Evaluation of power generation operations in response to changes in surface water reservoir storage journal May 2013
Understanding Uncertainties in Future Colorado River Streamflow journal January 2014
Water constraints on European power supply under climate change: impacts on electricity prices journal July 2013

Cited By (3)

Climate model projections for future seasonal rainfall cycle statistics in Northwest Costa Rica journal January 2019
A review of the energy–carbon–water nexus: Concepts, research focuses, mechanisms, and methodologies journal July 2019
Influence of El Niño Southern Oscillation on global hydropower production journal March 2017

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Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
energy
water
nexus
EWN
climate
power system
electricity