Decarbonisation could trigger water shortages and blackouts

The decarbonisation of the electricity sector could result in water shortages and blackouts, according to a new report.

Researchers at Newcastle University have studied the cooling requirements of electricity generation in the UK and said that, under certain scenarios, power stations may have to reduce their output, or shut down completely, due to a lack of water for cooling.

The academics have called on the government to give greater consideration to the electricity sector’s “water footprint” to minimise the risk to generation output.

In the paper, six potential future energy pathways are assessed, including four used by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc).

All the scenarios showed a decrease in water intensity and carbon emissions up to 2030 as old coal plants close down and less water-reliant cooling systems are introduced.

Between 2030 and 2050, there is a wider differential in water usage ranging from a 20 per cent decrease up to a four-fold increase in water usage for cooling.

In a high nuclear generation scenario, tidal and coastal water abstraction could increase by between 148 per cent and 399 per cent, while a high carbon capture and storage future would see freshwater abstraction increase by up to 69 per cent.
Water consumption falls by 20 per cent under a renewable generation future.

Ed Byers, from Newcastle University’s School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, who was a co-author on the report, said: “The high dependency on water in electricity generation means there is a real possibility that in just a few decades some power stations may be forced to decrease production or shut down if there are water shortages.

“Although this may seem odd given the current weather, water shortages may be expected with changes in climate and a growing population.”