Quantitative Evaluation Framework and Application for Regional Water Sustainability Under Local Energy Transition

Abstract

Considering the interdependent and mutually constraining relationship between energy and water systems, water-energy analysis is essential to energy transformation and carbon neutrality goals, as well as future water sustainable management. Previous studies evaluated the water demand during the energy transition but rarely regarding its impact on regional water environmental sustainability. Besides, how to combine the evaluation results with the spatial and temporal heterogeneity is also one of the current gaps. This paper proposed an evaluation framework for regional water sustainability under local energy transition, with an Integrated Regional Energy-Water Evaluation Model (IREWEM) to quantitatively evaluate the water withdrawal and water environment during the energy transition. Then, Shaanxi Province in China was taken as a case study, and the impacts of its energy transition on the regional water environmental sustainability, including both quantity and quality, were conducted with five scenarios. The results showed that the large-scale application of CCU/CCUS and BECCS technologies could have more advantages regarding CO2 emissions and water usage reduction, which can significantly reduce water withdrawal and relieve the pressure of water shortage. However, such low-carbon technologies show little effect on improving water environmental quality, due to the leakage of absorbents, CO2 and other risky substances during capture, transportation, and storage from a life cycle perspective. This finding inspires that advanced energy-transforming technology should be innovated and improved with water treatment technology. The findings inspire that advanced energy-saving technology should be innovated and improved in water treatment technology in the future.

Keywords: Water Sustainability, Energy-Water Nexus, Transition Path, Spatial and Temporal Analysis