Electricity systems capacity expansion under cooling water availability constraints. Issue 1 (13th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qadrdan, Meysam; Byers, Edward; Chaudry, Modassar; Hall, Jim; Jenkins, Nick; Xu, Xiandong
• Is Part Of: IET energy systems integration. Volume 1:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 33
• Publication Date: 2019-03-13
• Subjects: climatology -- water supply -- power generation planning -- gas turbines -- cooling -- climate mitigation -- thermal power stations -- combined cycle power stations -- water resources -- environmental economics; electricity systems capacity expansion -- water availability constraints -- thermal power plants -- environmental regulation -- climate change impacts -- reliable water supplies -- integrated energy systems model -- spatially explicit energy systems model -- gas transmission infrastructure -- cooling water constraints -- current availability -- combined cycle gas turbine capacity -- medium climate change scenario -- power sector -- expected climate change -- reduced reliability -- freshwater resources -- system costs -- expensive cooling technologies -- optimal capacity expansion; Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Power resources; Energy conservation; Periodicals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-esi.2018.0024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2516-8401

Abstract

Abstract : Large and reliable volumes of water are required to cool thermal power plants. Yet across the world growing demands from society, environmental regulation and climate change impacts are reducing the availability of reliable water supplies. This in turn constrains the capacity and locations of thermal power plants that can be developed. The authors present an integrated and spatially explicit energy systems model that explores optimal capacity expansion planning strategies, taking into account electricity and gas transmission infrastructure and cooling water constraints under climate change. In Great Britain, given the current availability of freshwater, it is estimated that around 32 GW of combined cycle gas turbine capacity can be sustainably and reliably supported by freshwater. However, to maintain the same reliability under a medium climate change scenario, this is halved to 16 GW. The authors also reveal that the current benefit of available freshwater to the power sector is ∼£50 billion between 2010 and 2050. Adapting to expected climate change impacts on the reduced reliability of freshwater resources could add an additional £18–19 billion in system costs to the low‐carbon energy transition over the time horizon, as more expensive cooling technologies and locations are required.