Water for Energy: Challenges at the Energy-Water-Climate Nexus Presented by John Gasper Argonne National Laboratory To the American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel: Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots November 16, 2009
Energy and Water are … Inextricably linked Water for Energy
Energy for Water
American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 2
Energy requires Water • Thermoelectric generation •fossil •nuclear •renewable • Hydropower generation • Energy minerals extraction / mining • Fuel Production •fossil fuels •hydrogen •biofuels/ethanol •Emission control
American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 3
Energy related water withdrawals exceed all others in the U.S.
Estimated freshwater withdrawal 2005 41% thermoelectric generation 37% irrigation 13% public supplies 6% industrial 3% livestock
Source: USGS Circular 1344, Estimated Use of Water in the U.S. in 2005, 2009
American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 4
Energy accounts for a growing portion of water consumption U.S. Freshwater Consumption, 100 Bgal/day Livestock 3.3%
Domestic 7.1%
Commercial 1.2%
Thermoelectric 3.3% Irrigation 80.6%
Industrial 3.3%
Mining 1.2% Source: U.S. Department of Energy Report to Congress: Energy Demands on Water Resources, 2006
Thermoelectric energy accounts for 27 percent of non‐agricultural fresh water consumption Biofuels production and processing not included here American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 5
Future increases in energy demand will place additional pressure on water
The Energy Information Administration estimates that by 2030 energy electricity generation will increase from 17 to 39% (reference case 24%) Thermoelectric generation will continue to account for up to 80% of generation Coal fired generation will account for over 50 % of generation Electricity from renewable sources is expected to increase to nearly 15% of total generation
Source: EIA Energy Outlook 2009
Related increases will occur in water demand for cooling, feedstock and fuel production, and emission controls American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 6
Climate change shifts the basis for meeting energy and water challenges
Energy use is the primary driver on climate change Changes to the water cycle may be one of the most significant impacts of climate change Water cycle changes may decrease water available for energy while increasing energy‐related water needs Some water supply solutions require additional energy for long‐distance transfers or desalination Key energy‐related climate mitigation measures (e.g., emission control, fuel switching) can increase energy and water demand
American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 7
Controlling carbon increases demand for water and energy H2O, N2 & other
Water, energy directly needed for the CO2 capture process
Conventional Pulverized Coal Combustion
•
Stack
Coal
Gas Cleanup
Air
Removal of SO2, NOx, PM, trace metals
Boiler
Water, energy indirectly needed to offset parasitic power required to operate CO2 capture technology
•
5–30% parasitic energy loss
•
35–110% increase in capital cost
•
30–80% increase in cost of electricity
Solvent‐based CO2 Capture
Compression
Enhance oil recovery
Geological sequestration
Source: NETL “2007 Pulverized Coal Oxyfuel Combustion Power Plants” August 2007 Final Report.
American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 8
Capturing carbon from fossil fueled power plants will increase water withdrawal requirements 30 25.7
Water Withdrawal, gpm/MWh
25 20 15 8.8
10
9.9
9.7
6.0 4.5
5 0 Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle New Technology
Pulverized Coal
Natural Gas
Existing Technology
WITHOUT CO2 WITH CO2
Source: Coal and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Power Plants, Volume 1: Bituminous Coal and Natural Gas to Electricity; NETL, May 2007
Switching energy sources will not necessarily reduce the amounts of water required for thermoelectric cooling Plant Type
Water Intensity (gal/MWhe) Withdrawal
Consumption
Solar Trough
760‐920
760 ‐ 920
Solar Tower
~750
~750
Geothermal
~2000
~1400
Biomass
300‐50000
300‐480
Coal
300‐50000
300‐480
Nuclear
500‐60000
400‐720
Natural Gas
230‐20000
100‐180
Renewable
Conventional
Advanced Conventional
Integrated ~250 Gasification Combined Cycle
~200‐330
Source: U.S. DOE Report to Congress: Energy Demands on Water 2006 American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 10
A shift to alternative transportation fuels is not water neutral Current transport fuel demand consumes 1.2 billion gallons of U.S. water daily Level of increased consumption will depend on market penetration of alternate fuels
Source: U.S. Department of Energy Report to Congress: Energy Demands on Water Resources, 2006 American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 11
Alternate cooling technologies result in energy-water tradeoffs
Technology
Water Use (Gallons/MWH)
Energy Penalty
Withdrawal
Consumption
Annual average % of plant output
Once Through
20,000 – 60, 000
100 ‐ 400
0.15
Wet Cooling
500 – 1,100
180 ‐ 720
0.39 – 1.8
Dry
0
0
3.0 – 7.0
Source: U.S. Department of Energy Report to Congress: Energy Demands on Water Resources, 2006 American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 12
Increasing reliance on renewable technologies can alter regional water demand
Ethanol Water Consumption (gal. water/ gal. product)
USDA REGION
5
6
7
Surface Water Irrigation
6.7
10.7
281.2
Ground Water Irrigation
0.4
3.2
39.4
Corn Ethanol Production
3.0
3.0
3.0
Cellulosic Ethanol Production 2 ‐ 6
2‐ 6
2‐ 6
Total
16.9
323.6
10.1
Source: Wu, et.al., Argonne National Laboratory January 2009
Changes to the water cycle may have significant impacts on hydropower generation
Conventional hydropower currently contributes 12% of electricity generated in U.S. Marine hydro‐kinetic technology and low impact new capacity (equipment upgrades, generation at non‐powered dams) could significantly increase contribution Installed capacity and generation potential reflects historic water cycles Climate change threats to hydropower include: – Shifts in precipitation patterns – Decreasing snowpack – Competing water demands
Key challenges for development of sustainable energy and water policy:
Supplying sufficient energy in the future, with limited water supplies
Maintaining a sustainable water supply in the future without greatly increasing energy use
Managing energy and water supplies in the context of land‐use and other natural resource issues
American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 15
Meeting challenges require rethinking our approaches Energy intensity of water – Use of water for cooling – Heat recovery – Life cycle based decisions
To water supply – Cost of water – Reallocation of water through water markets – Water reuse and reclamation on a larger scale
To energy, water, land, natural resource planning – Integrated analysis and planning – Regional‐based decisions Source: Jeffrey Koseff presentation to CCST, May 12, 2008 American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 16
Water for energy challenges at the EnergyWater-Climate Nexus
Energy and water are inextricably Water for Energy and Energy for Water linked. Future increases in energy demand will place additional pressure on water resources Climate change shifts the basis for meeting energy and water challenges Key energy‐related climate mitigation measures (emission control, fuel switching) can increase energy and water demand Meeting challenges at the energywater- climate nexus requires More information: John Gasper rethinking our approaches Argonne National Laboratory
[email protected] 202‐488‐2420
American Chemical Society Science and the Congress Project Panel “Energy, Water and Climate: Connecting the Dots” November 16, 2009 17
