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Impacts of Decarbonisation on the Water-Energy-Land (WEL) Nexus: A Case Study of the Spanish Electricity Sector

Author

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  • Yolanda Lechón

    (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Av. Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Cristina De La Rúa

    (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Av. Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
    Chair of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems, Technical University Munich, Lichtenbergst. 4a, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany)

  • Helena Cabal

    (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Av. Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Over the last decades, combating climate change has been an important concern for policy makers. As a result, many policies have been designed towards this direction. Being electricity generation the focus of climate change mitigation policies, important changes are expected in this sector over the next few years as a result of the implementation of such policies. However, electricity production also generates other impacts on the water, energy and land (WEL) nexus that must be further investigated. To shed some light to this issue, this paper presents and discusses the potential impacts on the water-energy-land nexus resulting from the decarbonisation of the Spanish electricity system impacts under two different long-term scenarios. Using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, a set of environmental impacts relevant for the nexus have been analysed for the current and future electricity generation technologies in Spain. Additionally, through the use of an optimization energy model—Times-Spain—the evolution of the electricity technologies in Spain until 2030, under two different scenarios and targets has been assessed. Taking into consideration such scenarios, the global warming, acidification, eutrophication, ecotoxicity, water consumption, resource depletion and land use impacts have been estimated. Results show that, over time, together with the decrease of greenhouse gas emission, acidification and eutrophication tend to decrease in both scenarios. On the contrary, ecotoxicity and resource use impacts tend to increase.

Suggested Citation

  • Yolanda Lechón & Cristina De La Rúa & Helena Cabal, 2018. "Impacts of Decarbonisation on the Water-Energy-Land (WEL) Nexus: A Case Study of the Spanish Electricity Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-24, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:5:p:1203-:d:145366
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel González-Prieto & Yolanda Fernández-Nava & Elena Marañón & Maria Manuela Prieto, 2020. "Effect of Decarbonisation Policies and Climate Change on Environmental Impacts due to Heating and Cooling in a Single-Family House," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Sandra Venghaus & Carolin Märker & Sophia Dieken & Florian Siekmann, 2019. "Linking Environmental Policy Integration and the Water-Energy-Land-(Food-)Nexus: A Review of the European Union’s Energy, Water, and Agricultural Policies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-16, November.
    3. Somayeh Rezaei Kalvani & Fulvio Celico, 2023. "The Water–Energy–Food Nexus in European Countries: A Review and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Maria Luiza de Medeiros Galvão & Marco Aurélio dos Santos & Neilton Fidelis da Silva & Valdenildo Pedro da Silva, 2020. "Connections Between Wind Energy, Poverty and Social Sustainability in Brazil’s Semiarid," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-25, January.

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