Life-cycle uses of water in U.S. electricity generation

Water use by the electric power industry is attracting renewed interest as periods and zones of arid weather are increasingly encountered, and various regional energy-production scenarios are evaluated. However, there is a scarcity of data on upstream water factors and discrepancies of data from different sources. We reviewed previous studies of water use in electricity generation and used full-life cycle accounting to evaluate water demand factors, both withdrawal and consumption, for conventional- and renewable-electrical power plants. Our investigation showed that moving to technologies like photovoltaics and wind offers the best option for conserving our water supply. We also emphasize the importance of employing a transparent, balanced approach in accounting life-cycle water usages.

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