The Electric Energy-Water Nexus: Managing the Seasonal Linkages of Fresh Water Use in Energy Sector for Sustainable Future

The Electric Energy-Water Nexus: Managing the Seasonal Linkages of Fresh Water Use in Energy Sector for Sustainable Future

WP-2010-017 The Electric Energy-Water Nexus: Managing the Seasonal Linkages of Fresh Water Use in Energy Sector for Sustainable Future PERINI PRAVEENA SRI Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai September 2010 http://www.igidr.ac.in/pdf/publication/WP-2010-017.pdf The Electric Energy-Water Nexus: Managing the Seasonal Linkages of Fresh Water Use in Energy Sector for Sustainable Future PERINI PRAVEENA SRI Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) General Arun Kumar Vaidya Marg Goregaon (E), Mumbai- 400065, INDIA Email (corresponding author): praveena@igidr.ac.in Abstract The fast growing demand for fresh water-coupled with the need to protect the environment has made many areas of India and the rest of the World vulnerable to water shortages for various uses of the economy. As they interact with Electricity Industry, water availability is critical to power generation. With out access to adequate amounts of water for steam generation and cooling, power plants that rely on heat energy to generate electricity cannot operate. Seasonal anomalies in water systems and electricity production are inextricably linked. A change in one of these systems induces a change in the other. Therefore, there is an imperative need to better understand the interrelationship of Electric Energy- water for effective management of serious water related power generation issues. This paper gauges the effects of the some of overlaps and gaps between seasonal anomalies in water availability and growth of power generation in rainy, summer, winter and post monsoon season for power plants of different energy types (Both non-renewable and renewable sources) Keywords: Andhra Pradesh (AP), Electric –Energy Water Nexus, Water Withdrawals (WD), Loss of generation (LG), Water Shortage, Seasonal Variation Index, cooling effectiveness JEL Code: C 43, Q 25, Q40, Q 42, Q 43, Q47, Q54 & Q 55 Acknowledgements: The author expresses sincere thanks to Shovan Ray, Sripad Motiram (Faculty, IGIDR) for providing me good suggestions and guidance in my research work. Thanks are due to Durgesh, Nitin, Hippu and Mrs. Rama for their help by providing pertinent ideas. My heart felt thanks and sincere gratitude to all the officers of Andhra Pradesh Generation Corporation Limited for providing me an insight in to research and timely help for data collection. Thanks to the faculty of Computer Centre of IGIDR for their assistance. My special thanks to friend, Mrs. Jaya Shree (Research Associate, National Institute of Rural Development) for helping me with sequencing of data and her constant motivation. i The Electric Energy –Water Nexus: Managing the Seasonal Linkages of Fresh Water Use in Energy Sector for Sustainable Future “Why does water scarcity arise” When there is decline in Sathya (Truth) and Dharma (righteousness), the level of water in the earth also declines. As compassion and love have diminished in human heart, water has become scarce. This problem is not due to divine fury as some people may imagine. It is because of the rise in evil qualities in man. If people strictly adhere to the path of truth and righteousness there will never be water scarcity”. - Bhagwan Sathya Saibaba, Sanathana Sarathi. 1. Introduction: Electric Energy production is a vital prerequisite for our economic and social development. As acknowledged in a recent report of World Water Development Report (2009) and technical reports of Electric power Research Institute of US (2007), water and electric energy are both indispensable inputs to modern economies but currently water resources are under intimidation owing to the impact of changing climate. The World‘s entire Electric Energy production is heavily dependent on water. For Example, consider the production of electricity at hydro power sites in which kinetic energy of falling water is converted to electricity. In case of thermal and combined cycle gas based power plants, huge quantities of water is used in boiler for its processing and to drive turbine generators. Apart from this, these power plants require water for thermoelectric cooling process that is imperative to maintain high energy efficiencies. Recognizing the significance of vital resource‖ water‖ in energy production , this paper highlights the issue that much of electric energy production is very much at the mercy of water availability, which is expected to be drastically affected not only by increasing demands but more of by climate changes. Seasonal variations in the water availability induced by climate change are more of associated today with scanty rainfall, changes in precipitation patterns, droughts, floods, disappearance of glaciers, high temperatures. The recent Intergovernmental panel on climate change reports of 2007 reiterated the fact that climate change will hit through water and many world regions will experience increased water shortages. This situation becomes of greater concern when the growing demands for water from other sectors such as for human consumption. agriculture, energy production is brought in to play and could further lead to water scarcity. In consideration of the fact in terms of our long term needs and effects of electric energy production, the Electric Energy-Water- Climate seasonal link makes it essential for adaptation to climate change and its effective management in a sustainable manner for future. Scope of the Study The scope of the study deals with context and background of present work, the problem definition, hypothesis, research objectives, literature review backed up with national and international issues, approach and methodology with data analysis and research outcome. The first section begins with a brief review of literature related to this field to understand issues that have been of concern both in the International and Indian context. The section attempts to review the different approaches that have been followed by researchers to measure water scarcity for various uses of the economy. It also examines the extent of fresh water shortages in Electricity Generation Industry both at global and Indian scenario quoting the instances of ground realities. The second section is a description of overview of selected power plants namely Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS), Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS O &M), KTPS V, Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant (RTPP), Srisailam Left and Right hydel power plant, Nagarjuna Sagar Main power House , Nagarjuna Sagar left canal power house, Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Power House, Lower and Upper Sileru hydro power plants, My Home Power Limited, Sri Satyakala, and Rayalaseema Green Energy Power Limited biomass power plants and wind power plants in three regions of Andhra Pradesh i.e. Coastal, Rayalaseema and Telangana regions. The third section highlights the estimation of water to electric energy generation ratio using Water Foot printing Method. This is followed by an effort to calculate fresh water footprints for various types of feedstock (thermal, natural gas, hydel and biomass) used in Electricity Production. The fourth section deals with potential consequences of climate variability on fresh water supplies in study regions of selected power stations. This section also deals with analysis of month wise data on various parameters such as water consumption for boiler feed and DM water, condense cooling, ash slurry and DM water make up, for domestic purpose ( in case of thermal, hydel and biomass ), generation particulars, Plant load factor, outages, auxiliary consumption and other miscellaneous items.. As far as hydel power stations are concerned this paper collected information pertaining to reservoir levels, storage capacity, evaporation losses, tail water level, water withdrawals of electricity production, auxiliary consumption, power generation particulars etc. The study monitors and evaluates the seasonal patterns for monthly data of fresh water withdrawals in four seasons namely rainy, winter, summer and post monsoon season and tracks its impact on current production of electricity and correspondingly on Plant Load Factor using Seasonal Variation Index. This paper also estimates forecasts of loss of generation and fresh water withdrawals associated with non-renewable sources of electric energy. The fifth section disseminates information about cooling water system mechanism and evaluates the performance of cooling towers by the technology adopted (Natural Draft or Induced Draft Technology) The Sixth section is a continuation of themes in the context of how to surmount these problems. It examines how documentation of case studies relating to water efficiency management strategies in electric energy sector for sustainable future can be more useful, useable and can be replica for other states to implement to reduce the negative impacts of climate variability on water supply reliability. This section also focuses on the policy recommendations for sustainable future of water availability in electric energy sector. I 2. Recent Trends in Fresh water Resource Scarcity Two well known facts that are quite obviously aware even for a layman are: i) water is a common chemical substance that is prerequisite for survival of all known forms of life. The other important fact is that from the very existence of civilization on this globe, the major portion of earth is covered with water to the total volume of 1386 million Km3. According to scientific estimations out of total available water 98 percent is salt water and 2 percent is only fresh water that supports 86 percent

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