Reducing Water Use with Advanced Cooling Technologies - Reliability, Cost, and Water Consumption Considerations

Water and energy are interdependent – water is used extensively in energy development as cooling water in thermoelectric power generation; in oil and alternative transportation fuels refining, and in biofuels production. Cooling water is also a critical utility for other energy-intensive industries such as chemical manufacturing. At the same time, water and waste water pumping, treatment, and distribution is one of the largest energy use sectors in many developed countries. At a time when fresh water availability is becoming limited in many regions due to changing precipitation patterns, increased ecological and environmental demands for water, and issues over sustainable surface and groundwater withdrawal and use, water consumption demands by the energy and process industry sectors could expand significantly in the next two decades. These emerging water needs for bothl sectors could significantly impact how water resources are managed and utilized in the future.

This presentation will provide an overview of advanced cooling options being considered for reducing water use for electric power generation and the associated application to other sectors and the overall impacts on reliability, costs, and water consumption.