Energy-Water Nexus. Challenges and Opportunities at the Evolving Nexus of Climate, Energy and Water

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1 Energy-Water Nexus Challenges and Opportunities at the Evolving Nexus of Climate, Energy and Water Vincent Tidwell Sandia National Laboratories National Governors Association August 9, 2017

2 Energy-Water Nexus Energy and power production requires water Thermoelectric Power Emission Control Energy Minerals Extraction/Mining Fuel Processing (fossil fuels, H 2,biofuels) Water production, processing, distribution, and end-use requires energy Pumping Conveyance Treatment Distribution Use Conditioning

3 Energy for Water 4

4 Energy for Water Today Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2014 Water Sector Consumes 4-8% of Total U.S. Energy Consumption Source: Green Prophet 2014 Source: Circle of Blue 2015

5 Varies by Sector and Location Large-Scale Conveyance Agricultural Pumping (Groundwater) Agricultural Pumping (Surface Water) Drinking Water (Surface Water) Drinking Water (Groundwater) Municipal Wastewater Source: Tidwell et al. 2014

6 Demands Likely To Increase Power Requirements For Treatment Modified from Water Reuse 2007, EPA 2004, Mickley 2003 Source: Einfeld 2007 Source: Western Resource Advocates 2010 Source: detoxifynow.com

7 Water for Energy 8

8 Water for Energy Today Water Withdrawal (BGD) Water Consumption (BGD) Source: USGS 1995, 2014 Estimated at ~2.6 BGD consumed in mining and fuel processing

9 Varies by Sector and Location Water Consumed in Energy Production Thermoelectric Coal Oil and Gas Unconventional Oil and Gas Refineries Uranium

10 Impacts Today Energy-Water Nexus Power plant outages Constrained hydropower Infrastructure damage by extreme events Curtailed energy resource extraction Permitting of new facilities

11 Impacts Today Energy-Water Nexus Power plant outages Constrained hydropower Infrastructure damage by extreme events Curtailed energy resource extraction Permitting of new facilities

12 Impacts Today Energy-Water Nexus Power plant outages Constrained hydropower Infrastructure damage by extreme events Curtailed energy resource extraction Permitting of new facilities

13 Impacts Today Energy-Water Nexus Power plant outages Constrained hydropower Infrastructure damage by extreme events Curtailed energy resource extraction Permitting of new facilities

14 Impacts Today Energy-Water Nexus Power plant outages Constrained hydropower Infrastructure damage by extreme events Curtailed energy resource extraction Permitting of new facilities

15 Water for Energy Tomorrow

16 Intensifying Climate

17 Thermoelectric Development Water and Power at Siting Risk Surface Water Availability Source: Tidwell et al Groundwater Availability

18 Gas and Oil Shale Development

19 Water for Transportation Fuels

20 Solutions

21 Water for Thermoelectric Power Water use influenced by: o Fuel type, o Cooling type, o Emission controls, o Age, and o Location Source: UCS 2011

22 Fuel Switching New capacity in U.S. is largely renewables and natural gas Retirement or de-rating of older plants result in net water savings Tidwell et al Source: Tidwell et al. 2013

23 Cooling System Retrofit Technology Number of plants Waste water 823 Brackish water 109 Dry cooling 246 Note: ΔLCOEs tend to be lower in the West, Texas Gulf Coast and south Florida, which are areas prone to drought stress Cumulative frequency of the least cost alternative values Least cost alternative values mapped on watersheds vulnerable to drought (outlined in red) Source: Tidwell et al With wholesale cost of electricity about $40/MWh*, many retrofits could be accomplished at levels that would add less than 10% to current power plant generation expenses. *average 2012 wholesale cost over 3 US trading hub regions

24 Cooling System Operations Source: Clement et al Roughly 32% of all thermoelectric water withdrawal occurs while power plants are not generating electricity.

25 Integrated Planning Integrate water related concerns into long-range transmission expansion planning (20 yrs.) of WECC: o Siting of new power plants o New transmission capacity

26 Planning: Water Supply Availability Unappropriated Surface Water Unappropriated Groundwater Appropriated Water Municipal Wastewater Brackish Groundwater Consumptive Demand

27 Planning: Watershed Impacts Reference Case Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Few instances where new demands exceed 10% of available water (outlined watersheds). Two scenarios free up considerable water (2 and 4). Scenario 3 Scenario 4

28 DOE Energy-Water Crosscut

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32 Summary The energy sector withdrawals more water than any other sector in the US o Power plant cooling o Fuel extraction o Fuel processing The water sector consumes 4-8% of all energy production Growth, changing technology, and climate change will put pressure on this energy-water nexus There are many options to manage the nexus Opportunities to reframe the nexus to achieve better efficiencies

33 Vincent Tidwell Sandia National Laboratories (505)