China's Yellow River Water Allocation Schemes's Water-Energy-Carbon Nexus

Abstract

Water allocation in rivers that cross borders is a critical concern in the realm of water resources. However, the interactions between water allocation, energy consumption and carbon emissions have been traditionally overlooked in the design of water allocation strategies. In this paper, based on GIS, we developed a transboundary water-energy-carbon nexus accounting (TWECN) framework to assess carbon emissions from water extraction in transboundary rivers. Taking the Yellow River as a case study, we first quantified the water allocation-associated carbon emissions from 1998 to 2020 of three water allocation schemes. Then, we eventually projected future emissions for 2060 using 21 different scenarios, incorporating three emission-reduction strategies (thermal power efficiency improvements, clean energy utilization, and carbon capture and storage coupled with three water allocation schemes). The findings indicate substantial carbon emissions associated with water extracted from transboundary rivers, with an overall 2.41×108 t of emissions from 1998 to 2020. By 2060, the emissions associated with water extraction could be reduced by 90% through energy system and water allocation schemes improvements. By building the TWECN framework, this study aims to promote quantitative coordination and allocation of transboundary river water resources, energy usage and emissions and provide insights for transboundary river management.

Keywords: Water-energy-carbon nexus, Carbon emissions, Scenarios analyses, Water allocation schemes, Energy transformation, Transboundary river