The development of an integrated model for the assessment of water and GHG footprints for the power generation sector. (15th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agrawal, Nikhil; Ahiduzzaman, Md; Kumar, Amit
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 216(2018)
• Page Start: 558
• Page End: 575
• Publication Date: 2018-04-15
• Subjects: Water-energy nexus -- LEAP-WEAP integration -- GHG emissions -- Water demand -- Power sector; AESO Alberta Electric System Operator -- AUC Alberta Utilities Commission -- BAU Business-As-Usual -- BCM Billion Cubic Meters -- CANSIM Canadian Socio-Economic Information Management System -- CLP Climate Leadership Plan -- COx carbon oxides -- GHG Greenhouse Gases -- GWh Gigawatt Hour -- HDI Human Development Index -- IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- LEAP Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning system -- MWh Megawatt Hour -- NEB National Energy Board -- NGL Natural Gas Liquids -- NPV Net Present Value -- SOx sulphur oxides -- TED Technology & Environment Database -- UNDP United Nations Development Program -- WEAP Water Evaluation And Planning; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.02.116
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: Assessed long term impacts of climate change on water consumption and GHG emissions. Evaluated cost effectiveness of various scenarios by developing water-carbon cost curve. Developed models in LEAP and WEAP that include demand tree, reference scenario. Coal to gas conversion will save water, reduce emissions while being cost-effective. Framework will help policy makers in other regions to develop climate change strategies. Abstract: To ensure the use of water today does not damage the prospects for its use by future generations, there is need to understand long-term water demand and supply through energy production, conversion, and use. This study aims to develop an integrated framework to assess the long-term impacts of climate change scenarios on water requirements and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The framework includes the integration of the Water Evaluation And Planning model (WEAP) and the Long-range Energy Alternative Planning Systems model (LEAP). As many countries are planning to move towards a cleaner electricity grid to mitigate climate change, this work attempts to present the impact of various scenarios on water demand, GHG emissions, and cost effectiveness. This is done by conducting a case study of the western Canadian province of Alberta where more than 85% of electricity is generated by fossil fuels. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of nine integrated LEAP-WEAP climate change scenarios for the years 2015–2050 by forecasting water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. The economic aspects of the developed scenarios are discussed in the form of a cost curve that shows the GHG saving potential, water use, and GHG mitigation costs for each scenario. For the Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario (coal power phase out by 2030), GHG emissions and water demand will fall by 44% and 34%, respectively, in 2030. The integrated results show that the scenarios will mitigate carbon emissions but will result in higher water consumption, which will directly affect water resources in the region. Because of the high investment cost to install the considered renewable power plants in the climate change scenarios, the cost of mitigating carbon emissions in the power sector is high. Early coal-to-gas power plant conversion is the only scenario that is expected to save water (67 million m 3 ) and reduce emissions (40 million tonnes of CO2 eq.) and be cost effective ($68/tonne of CO2 eq.). These LEAP-WEAP model results can help create awareness among policy makers to understand the water-energy demand and supply relationship in a quantifiable way.