Categorising virtual water transfers through China's electric power sector. (15th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liao, Xiawei; Zhao, Xu; Hall, Jim W.; Guan, Dabo
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 226(2018)
• Page Start: 252
• Page End: 260
• Publication Date: 2018-09-15
• Subjects: Electric power -- Water-energy nexus -- Virtual water -- Multi-regional input-output analysis; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.05.132
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: China's thermoelectric power consumed 3.8 billion m 3 of water in 2010. China's hydropower consumed 14.6 billion m 3 of water in 2010. 60.2% of the power sector's water use was driven by industries' power demands. 47.5% of the power sector's water use was virtually transferred across provinces. Water-scarce inland provinces are exporting virtual water via their power sector. Abstract: Water consumption in thermoelectric and hydropower plants in China increased from 1.6 and 6.1 billion m 3, respectively, to 3.8 and 14.6 billion m 3 from 2002 to 2010. Using the concept of virtual water, we attribute to different electricity users the total water consumption by the electric power sector. From 2002 to 2010, virtual water embodied in the final consumption of electricity (hereinafter referred to as VWEF) increased from 1.90 to 7.35 billion m 3, whilst virtual water in electricity used by industries (hereinafter referred to as VWEI) increased from 5.82 to 11.13 billion m 3 . The inter-provincial virtual water trades as a result of spatial mismatch of electricity production and consumption are quantified. Nearly half (47.5% in 2010) of the physical water inputs into the power sector were virtually transferred across provincial boundaries in the form of virtual water embodied in the electricity produced, mainly from provinces in northeast, central and south China to those in east and north China. Until 2030, VWEF and VWEI are likely to increase from 5.27 and 14.89 billion m 3 to 7.19 and 20.33 billion m 3, respectively. Climate change mitigation and water conservation measures in the power sector may help to relieve the regional pressures on water resources imposed by the power sector.