Categorising virtual water transfers through China's electric power sector

Liao, Xiawei, Zhao, Xu, Hall, Jim W. and Guan, Dabo (2018) Categorising virtual water transfers through China's electric power sector. Applied Energy, 226. pp. 252-260. ISSN 0306-2619

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Abstract

Water consumption in thermoelectric and hydropower plants in China increased from 1.6 and 6.1 billion m3, respectively, to 3.8 and 14.6 billion m3 from 2002 to 2010. Using the concept of virtual water, we attribute to different electricity users the total water consumption by the electric power sector. From 2002 to 2010, virtual water embodied in the final consumption of electricity (hereinafter referred to as VWEF) increased from 1.90 to 7.35 billion m3, whilst virtual water in electricity used by industries (hereinafter referred to as VWEI) increased from 5.82 to 11.13 billion m3. The inter-provincial virtual water trades as a result of spatial mismatch of electricity production and consumption are quantified. Nearly half (47.5% in 2010) of the physical water inputs into the power sector were virtually transferred across provincial boundaries in the form of virtual water embodied in the electricity produced, mainly from provinces in northeast, central and south China to those in east and north China. Until 2030, VWEF and VWEI are likely to increase from 5.27 and 14.89 billion m3 to 7.19 and 20.33 billion m3, respectively. Climate change mitigation and water conservation measures in the power sector may help to relieve the regional pressures on water resources imposed by the power sector.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: electric power,multi-regional input-output analysis,virtual water,water-energy nexus,building and construction,energy(all),mechanical engineering,management, monitoring, policy and law,sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2200/2215
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of International Development
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Water Security Research Centre
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 23 Jul 2018 14:30
Last Modified: 21 Oct 2022 19:33
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/67808
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.05.132

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