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Strategic responses to CO2 emission reduction targets drive shift in U.S. electric sector water use
Citation:
Cameron, C., W. Yelverton, R. Dodder, AND J. West. Strategic responses to CO2 emission reduction targets drive shift in U.S. electric sector water use. Energy Strategy Reviews. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, 4:16-27, (2014).
Impact/Purpose:
Analysis of electric sector water use under alternative scenarios to inform decisions makers regarding factors that affect this sector's vulnerability to climate change.
Description:
The reliance of the U.S. electric sector on water makes this sector vulnerable to climate change and variability. We use the EPAUS9r MARKAL model to investigate changes in U.S. electric sector water withdrawal and consumption through 2055 under alternative energy system-wide CO2 emissions reduction scenarios. Scenarios included a 10 %, 25 %, and 50 % CO2 emissions reduction by 2055 relative to 2005 as well as nine sensitivity analysis scenarios. CO2 constraints caused electric sector water withdrawal to decrease 31-46 % by 2055 through increased use of renewable power and the replacement of inefficient thermoelectric facilities using once-through cooling with new facilities using recirculating cooling systems. CO2 constraints also increased the use of nuclear power and carbon capture and storage and consequently increased the electric sector water consumption 42 % by 2055 in the 50 % CO2 Reduction scenario relative to a business-as-usual scenario. Unlike previous analyses, we found that aggressive CO2 constraints (50 % CO2 Reduction) increased demand for electricity (36 % by 2055), most notably in the transportation sector. Electricity demand growth had the greatest impact in the southeastern U.S. where continued reliance on thermoelectric generation could result in acute localized vulnerability to climate change.
