Dynamic changes in water use patterns of coal power generation during China's energy transition

IF 9.3 2区经济学 Q1 ECONOMICS

Energy Policy Pub Date : 2024-12-12 DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114460

Zijie Zhang , Chao Zhang , Yan Hao , Lixiao Zhang , Xinqing Li , Yuqin Li

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Soaring electricity demand and rapid development of power generation technology are substantially reshaping the water use patterns associated with coal power generation. The evolution of water use patterns that pose a threat to freshwater availability in China, as well as their variation across different geographic regions, remains inadequately understood. In this study, we compiled spatiotemporally-explicit data from 2011 to 2021 on freshwater consumption and withdrawal for coal-fired electric power generation in China to explore the factors driving these changes and provide the detailed spatial distribution information of freshwater usage at a grid level. Results indicate contrasting trends: while withdrawal volume decreased by 3.9 × 10⁹ m³ yr⁻¹, consumption volume increased by 8.1 × 10⁸ m³ yr⁻¹. This research also highlights the regional disparities in the impacts of power generation technology improvement on freshwater resources. The tension between coal power production and freshwater resources has been alleviated in the “Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei”. However, it has intensified in several arid regions of the northwest. These results help prioritize geo-targeted efforts to balance power system decarbonization and water usage, which collectively affect the regional sustainable development.

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来源期刊

Energy Policy 管理科学-环境科学

CiteScore

17.30

自引率

5.60%

发文量

540

审稿时长

7.9 months

期刊介绍： Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues of energy development including energy conversion, distribution and use as well as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in order to contribute to climate change mitigation. The attributes of energy policy may include legislation, international treaties, incentives to investment, guidelines for energy conservation, taxation and other public policy techniques. Energy policy is closely related to climate change policy because totalled worldwide the energy sector emits more greenhouse gas than other sectors.