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Challenges faced when energy meets water: CO2 and water implications of power generation in inner Mongolia of China

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  • Xin, Li
  • Feng, Kuishuang
  • Siu, Yim Ling
  • Hubacek, Klaus

Abstract

The number of energy–water nexus studies has been increasing recently due to the significant linkages between energy generation and water consumption, but no study has looked at water quantity and quality impacts as well as carbon emissions associated with electricity production. Using integrated hybrid life cycle analysis, this study examines the life cycle impacts of pulverized coal, wind power and solar power on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, water consumption and water quality in Inner Mongolia, China. Our research findings show that pulverized coal emits 1213.5g of CO2 per kilowatt-hour (g/kWh) of electricity output, compared with 34.4g/kWh for wind power and 67.4g/kWh for solar photovoltaic. Water consumption for pulverized coal, wind power and solar photovoltaic are 3.3, 0.7 and 0.9l/kWh, respectively. The water requirement to dilute the life cycle chemical oxygen demand (COD) discharge would increase water consumption during production processes of pulverized coal, wind power and solar photovoltaic systems by 0.11, 0.09 and 0.19l/kWh, respectively. Given that the State Grid Corporation of China aims to increase the power generation capacity that provides power supply to regions outside Inner Mongolia to 120GW by 2020, electricity outflows could contribute 520 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, which would be similar to the CO2 emissions of the UK in 2010, and 1460.8 million m3 of water. This study reveals that substantial reductions in CO2 emissions and water consumption can be attained if the existing coal-dominated power generation was substituted by wind power in Inner Mongolia.

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  • Xin, Li & Feng, Kuishuang & Siu, Yim Ling & Hubacek, Klaus, 2015. "Challenges faced when energy meets water: CO2 and water implications of power generation in inner Mongolia of China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 419-430.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:45:y:2015:i:c:p:419-430
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.01.070
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Sammarchi, Sergio & Li, Jia & Izikowitz, David & Yang, Qiang & Xu, Dong, 2022. "China’s coal power decarbonization via CO2 capture and storage and biomass co-firing: A LCA case study in Inner Mongolia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PA).
    3. Tian, Jing & Andraded, Celio & Lumbreras, Julio & Guan, Dabo & Wang, Fangzhi & Liao, Hua, 2018. "Integrating Sustainability Into City-level CO2 Accounting: Social Consumption Pattern and Income Distribution," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 1-16.
    4. Fang, Delin & Chen, Bin, 2018. "Linkage analysis for water-carbon nexus in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 682-695.
    5. Jin, Yi & Behrens, Paul & Tukker, Arnold & Scherer, Laura, 2019. "Water use of electricity technologies: A global meta-analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    6. Yin, J.N. & Huang, G.H. & Xie, Y.L. & An, Y.K., 2021. "Carbon-subsidized inter-regional electric power system planning under cost-risk tradeoff and uncertainty: A case study of Inner Mongolia, China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    7. Zhao, Yuhuan & Shi, Qiaoling & li, Hao & Qian, Zhiling & Zheng, Lu & Wang, Song & He, Yizhang, 2022. "Simulating the economic and environmental effects of integrated policies in energy-carbon-water nexus of China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PA).
    8. Thopil, George Alex & Pouris, Anastassios, 2016. "A 20 year forecast of water usage in electricity generation for South Africa amidst water scarce conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1106-1121.
    9. Li, Xin & Chalvatzis, Konstantinos J. & Pappas, Dimitrios, 2018. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from power generation in China’s provinces in 2020," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 93-102.
    10. Li, Hao & Zhao, Yuhuan & Qiao, Xiaoyong & Liu, Ya & Cao, Ye & Li, Yue & Wang, Song & Zhang, Zhonghua & Zhang, Yongfeng & Weng, Jianfeng, 2017. "Identifying the driving forces of national and regional CO2 emissions in China: Based on temporal and spatial decomposition analysis models," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 522-538.
    11. Chu, Chu & Ritter, William & Sun, Xiaohui, 2019. "Spatial variances of water-energy nexus in China and its implications for provincial resource interdependence," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 487-502.

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