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How the Availability and Cost of Water Could Influence the Future Buildout of the Electric Grid in the U.S.

  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Sandia National Laboratories

Research output: NLRPresentation

Abstract

The power sector is the largest water withdrawer in the U.S., and water availability can drive both its investment and operating decisions. Given a range of uncertain trends in the power sector, it's important to consider how water demands might evolve from both generation and load change and how the cost and availability of water might impact water source decisions. Doing so requires a detailed consideration of technology-specific water needs, water availability characterization, and scenario exploration. This presentation describes capabilities to do so in unprecedented detail and some preliminary findings about how water constraints could influence power sector expansion.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages15
DOIs
StatePublished - 2025

Publication series

NamePresented at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Meeting, 15-19 December 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana

NLR Publication Number

  • NLR/PR-6A40-98392

Keywords

  • capacity expansion
  • electricity
  • power
  • ReEDS
  • scenarios
  • water

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