MSGID: 1:317/3 646d92f1   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Researchers examine cooling power plants with brackish groundwater   
      
      
     Date:   
         May 23, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Wyoming   
     Summary:   
         Nontraditional water sources can be deployed to help cope with   
         climate- induced water risks and tackle the increasing water   
         demand for decarbonization of fossil fuel-fired power plants,   
         but that could increase the cost of electricity generation by 8   
         percent to 10 percent.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
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   A new analysis led by a University of Wyoming researcher shows that   
   brackish or salty groundwater has the potential to replace fresh water to   
   cool coal- and natural gas-fired power plants and strengthen resilience   
   in the energy infrastructure, although there's a cost associated with   
   doing so.   
      
   With freshwater supplies threatened due to drought, climate change and   
   rapid socioeconomic growth, water competition is increasing between   
   the electric power sector and other sectors. While transitioning to a   
   low-carbon energy future, decarbonization of fossil fuel-fired power   
   plants by carbon capture and storage would significantly increase water   
   consumption and exacerbate water competition. Water challenges drive   
   power plant operators to explore alternative water sources.   
      
   "Nontraditional water sources can be deployed to help cope with   
   climate-induced water risks and tackle the increasing water demand for   
   decarbonization of fossil fuel-fired power plants," wrote the research   
   team, led by Haibo Zhai, UW's Roy and Caryl Cline Distinguished Chair in   
   the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. "Treatment of brackish   
   groundwater for thermoelectric generation cooling can help alleviate   
   potential competition for freshwater resources among various sectors in   
   water-stressed regions."  The research appears in the journal Nature   
   Water, with Zhai's UW Ph.D. student, Zitao Wu, as the lead author of   
   the paper. Other contributors are from the National Energy Technology   
   Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pa. This journal publishes the best research   
   on the evolving relation between water and society. It's the second   
   paper of a multiyear project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy;   
   the first paper, published last year in the journal Applied Energy,   
   examined the possibility of switching from water cooling towers to dry   
   cooling systems at fossil fuel-fired plants.   
      
   Removing excess dissolved salts and minerals from brackish water can   
   itself be energy intensive and produce concentrated brines requiring   
   disposal. A method called zero liquid discharge minimizes environmental   
   impacts of desalination but is particularly costly.   
      
   The researchers examined the technical and economic feasibility of   
   multiple desalination processes. They also estimated how much fresh water   
   would be saved as a result of treating brackish water for power plant   
   cooling, and they evaluated the cost-effectiveness of brackish water   
   treatment retrofits -- and the impact on the net generating capacity of   
   power plants. They concluded that retrofitting power plants to treat   
   brackish groundwater could nearly eliminate the use of fresh water   
   but would increase the cost of electricity generation by 8 percent to   
   10 percent.   
      
   "Our study reveals trade-offs in freshwater savings, cost and generating   
   capacity shortfalls from desalination deployment," Wu says.   
      
   The researchers call for further development of technologies to treat   
   brackish water, along with exploration of using other nontraditional water   
   sources for cooling of power plants. Those include treated municipal   
   wastewater, as well as water produced from oil and gas extraction and   
   carbon dioxide storage reservoirs.   
      
   The trade-offs identified for various nontraditional water sources will   
   fill knowledge gaps to better inform water-for-energy decisions and   
   management, the researchers say.   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Matter_&_Energy   
                   # Nature_of_Water # Nuclear_Energy # Energy_Technology #   
                   Energy_and_Resources   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Water # Drought_Research # Energy_and_the_Environment   
                   # Renewable_Energy   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Water_resources o Electricity_generation o Hydroelectricity o   
             Water_turbine o Water_scarcity o Renewable_energy o Fossil_fuel   
             o Wind_power   
      
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   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Wyoming. Note: Content   
   may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Zitao Wu, Haibo Zhai, Eric J. Grol, Chad M. Able, Nicholas   
      S. Siefert.   
      
         Treatment of brackish water for fossil power plant cooling. Nature   
         Water, 2023; DOI: 10.1038/s44221-023-00072-x   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230523123748.htm   
      
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