The Water Energy Nexus and NSF Research Paul L. Bishop, PhD, PE, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Water – Energy Nexus and NSF Research Paul L. Bishop, PhD, PE, BCEE Environmental Engineering Program Director

Humanity’s Top Ten Problems for Next 50 Years Energy 1. Water 2. Food 3. Environment 4. Poverty 5. Terrorism & War 6. Disease 7. 2003 6.3 Billion People Education 8. 2050 9-10 Billion People Democracy 9. 10. Population Source: Richard Smalley, Nobel laureate 2

The Water-Energy Nexus 3

The Water-Energy Nexus  Water is used in almost every aspect of energy production  In 2000, thermoelectric power generation [coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear] accounted for 39% of all freshwater withdrawals in the US  Consumption of water for electrical energy production could more than double by 2030 (USDOE estimate)  Equal to the entire domestic water consumption in the US in 1995  Coal accounts for 52% of US electricity generation, and each kWh generated from coal requires withdrawal of 25 gallons of water  The average home uses 8,900 kWh of electricity per year = 225,000 gal of water per home for electricity production (more than twice as much water as is consumed in the home)  Some cleaner energy alternatives – including biofuels, tar sands and coal with carbon sequestration – will significantly increase fresh water demands  Water and wastewater treatment and pumping requires large amounts of energy, which is projected to greatly increase in the future 4

The Water-Energy Nexus (cont.)  Water and wastewater treatment and pumping requires large amounts of energy, which is projected to greatly increase in the future  Electricity is needed for pumping, mixing, aeration, etc.  The baseline electricity consumption projection for fresh water by public agencies is currently about 56 billion kWh and this is expected to increase about 35% by 2050  Current usage is producing ~45 million tons of greenhouse gases per year  A California Energy Commission study found that 25% of America’s electricity goes to moving and treating water  Thermoelectric plants in the U.S. alone draw 136 billion gallons of water to cool the steam used to drive turbines  Plans for some new power plants have recently been scrapped because of a lack of water  Approximately 40% of electricity used by U.S. cities is at water and wastewater facilities 5

Energy and Water are Inextricably Linked Ener nergy for or W Wat ater and and Water for or E Ener nergy gy Ene nergy and and Water er produc oduction, on, pow power proce cessi ssing, prod oduc uction on distribution and di and end end- requ quires es water er: use e requi quires ener ergy gy: • Thermoelectric • Pumping cooling • Conveyance and • Hydropower Transport • Energy minerals • Use conditioning extraction/mining • Surface and • Fuel production Groundwater (fossil fuels, H2, biofuels) • Emission controls 6

Estimated Fresh Water Withdrawals by Sector, 2000 7

Areas of Physical and Economic Water Scarcity 8

Water Supply Sustainability Index 9

Water Supplies Are Vulnerable 10

Bringing Water to Southern California 11

Many Hours and Much Energy Spent Daily to Get Water 12

Water is a Matter of National Security  Hillary Clinton’s World Water Day address at the National Geographic Society, March 22, 2010  “As pressing as water issues are now, they will become even more important in the near future.”  “Experts predict …that by 2025, just 15 years from now, nearly two-thirds of the world’s countries will be water-stressed.”  “2.4 billion people will face absolute water scarcity – the point at which a lack of water threatens social and economic development.”  “Access to reliable supplies of clean water is a matter of human security. It’s also a matter of national security. “  “Women who gain access to sanitation, who are freed from the burden of walking for hours each day just to locate and carry water, will find it easier to invest time and energy in their families and communities.” 13

Energy Requires Water 14

Increase in World Energy Demand Due to Population Increases History His Projec ection ons 700 700 645 onsumption 598 600 600 553 504 Energy Cons 500 500 on Btu) 412 366 25 (Quadrillion 400 400 348 arketed Ener 310 285 300 300 243 207 200 200 1970-2025 orld Mar 100 100 Wor 197 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2002 2010 2015 2020 2025 Maj ajor or ener energy cons onsumpti tion i inc ncrea ease w will be be in n the the Emer ergi ging ec econo onomies (Courtesy: GE Energy Infrastructure) 15

Water Demands by Energy Sector • Many any new new tec echn hnol ologi gies will be be mor ore e wat ater er intens ensive • Hydr drog ogen ec n econom onomy w will requ equire ev even en mor ore e wat ater er • Cons onstrai aints will gr grow ow for or ener energy gy dev devel elop opmen ent and and pow power er pl plant ant siting ng Sandia National Lab 16

Declining Reservoir Levels Reduce Hydro Generating Capacity (Courtesy: GE Energy Infrastructure) 17

Oil Shale Water Demands  Oil shale can be mined and processed to generate oil similar to oil pumped from conventional oil wells  After mining, the oil shale is transported to a facility for retorting, a heating process that separates the oil fractions of oil shale from the mineral fraction  Both mining and processing of oil shale involve a variety of environmental impacts , such as global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, disturbance of mined land; impacts on wildlife and air and water quality  Oil shale extraction and processing require 1.5-2.9 barrels of water for each barrel of oil produced  It primarily exists in very arid areas 18

Tar Sand Water Demands  Tar sands (oil sands) are a combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen , a heavy black viscous oil  Oil sands recovery processes include extraction and separation systems to separate the bitumen  About two tons of tar sands are required to produce one barrel of oil  Tar sands extraction and processing require 2-4 barrels of water for each barrel of oil produced  Resulting water contains highly toxic Tar ar S Sands ands Open pen Pit M t Mini ning ng, , hydrocarbons such as napthenic acids Albe berta ta, C Canada anada 19

Presidential Executive Order 13514 October 5, 2009  Sets sustainability goals for 25 Federal agencies, focusing on making improvements in their environmental, energy and economic performance.  36% reduction in vehicle fleet petroleum use by 2020  26% improvement in water efficiency by 2020  50% recycling and waste diversion by 2015  95% of all applicable contracts will meet sustainability standards  Implementation of storm water provisions  Development of guidance for sustainable Federal building locations 20

Critical Questions  How much water will advanced energy technologies (hydrogen, biomass, nuclear, FutureGen) require?  How will spatial and temporal variability of water resources affect energy systems? Water quality?  What impact will increased competition for water resources have on energy policy?  What are the interdependencies between water, energy and other critical infrastructures (e.g., public health, emergency services, transportation, telecommunications)?  How will environmental regulations and policy impact the energy~water connection? Source: Brookhaven National Lab 21

Sampling of Water-Energy Research Needs  Integrated regional energy and water resource planning and decision support  Treating and reusing non-potable water in power production  Water needs for emerging/renewable energy resources  Improved biomass/biofuels water use efficiency  Improved water efficiency or eliminating water usage altogether in thermoelectric power generation  Energy efficiency for wastewater treatment and reuse  Improved water supply and demand characterization/monitoring  Infrastructure changes for improved energy/water efficiency 22

Imp mpac act o of Wat Water – Was Wastewa water Treatme Tr ment an and d Co Convey eyance on on Ene nergy Deman Demands 23

Energy Usage for Municipal Water 6-18% 18% of of a a city’s ener energy gy dem demand and is us used ed to o pr produc oduce, trea eat & trans ansport wat ater er (Courtesy: GE Energy Infrastructure) 24

Energy Usage for Water Systems  Approximately 13-18% of total U.S. electricity is used in the municipal water and wastewater sector  Equal to the output of 150 typical coal-fired power plants  Water and wastewater treatment account for 35% of energy usage by municipalities  Electricity usage in the US for water and wastewater treatment and pumping totals over $6.5 billion/year  EPRI estimates that energy demand associated with supplying water and its treatment will double over the next 45 years  Advanced treatment systems may triple the energy demand per gallon treated  Aging pipe lines increase friction and increase the energy needed to pump water  Water short areas will need to pump water even greater distance than now, bringing water to population dense urban areas 25