Water for electricity in India: A multi-model study of future challenges and linkages to climate change mitigation

Srinivasan, Shweta; Kholod, Nazar; Chaturvedi, Vaibhav; Ghosh, Probal Pratap; Mathur, Ritu; Clarke, Leon; Evans, Meredydd; Hejazi, Mohamad; Kanudia, Amit; Koti, Poonam Nagar; Liu, Bo; Parikh, Kirit S.; Ali, Mohammed Sahil; Sharma, Kabir

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.04.079

Water for electricity in India: A multi-model study of future challenges and linkages to climate change mitigation

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2018 · Applied Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.04.079· OSTI ID:1417436

Srinivasan, Shweta; ; Chaturvedi, Vaibhav; Ghosh, Probal Pratap; Mathur, Ritu; Clarke, Leon; Evans, Meredydd; Hejazi, Mohamad; Kanudia, Amit; Koti, Poonam Nagar; Liu, Bo; Parikh, Kirit S.; Ali, Mohammed Sahil; Sharma, Kabir

This paper provides projections of water withdrawals and consumption for electricity generation in India through 2050. Based on the results from five energy-economic modeling teams, the paper explores the implications of economic growth, power plant cooling policies, and electricity CO2 emissions reductions on water withdrawals and consumption. To isolate modeling differences, the five teams used harmonized assumptions regarding economic and population growth, the distribution of power plants by cooling technologies, and withdrawals and consumption intensities. The results demonstrate the different but potentially complementary implications of cooling technology policies and efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. The application of closed-loop cooling technologies substantially reduces water withdrawals but increases consumption. The water implications of CO2 emissions reductions, depend critically on the approach to these reductions. Focusing on wind and solar power reduces consumption and withdrawals; a focus on nuclear power increases both; and a focus on hydroelectric power could increase consumptive losses through evaporation.

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

DOE Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1417436

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-122615; 830403000

Journal Information:: Applied Energy, Journal Name: Applied Energy Journal Issue: C Vol. 210; ISSN 0306-2619

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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