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Fresh water shortages pose threat to coal and nuclear generation
- 12 years ago (2012-06-05)
- Junior Isles
Higher water temperatures and lower river flows due to climate change pose significant operational and cooling problems for nuclear and coal-fired power plants in both the US and Europe, a study published in Nature Climate Change warns.
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A team of European and US scientists used projections of rising temperatures and reduced river flow in the summer to estimate impacts on power plants that are highly dependent on fresh water for operation.
Coal, nuclear and gas plants use huge amounts of fresh water for cooling and producing steam. These plants require both consistent river flow and temperature for reliable operation.
The authors estimated that between 2031 and 2060, coal and nuclear power generating capacity will decrease by between 4 and 16 per cent in the United States and by 6 to 19 per cent in Europe.
The study also projected a tripling of large reductions in generation, through complete or partial shutdowns, due to water issues.
Thermoelectric plants supply more than 90 per cent of electricity in the United States and make up 40 per cent of US freshwater usage, the study says.
In Europe, such plants supply three-quarters of the electricity and account for about half of the freshwater use.
"This study suggests that our reliance on thermal cooling is something that we're going to have to revisit," co-author Dennis Lettenmaier, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, said.
Disruptions to power supplies are already occurring, the report noted, as during warm summers of 2003, 2006 and 2009 several European power plants cut production due to restricted availability of cooling water, pushing up power prices.
The study projects the most significant impacts for US power plants will be along major rivers in South-eastern states.
"Considering the increase in future electricity demand, there is a strong need for improved climate adaptation strategies in the thermoelectric power sector to assure future energy security," the study says.
Mitigation strategies proposed by the report include more coastal plants or building more water-efficient gas-fired power plants.