Automating physics-based models to estimate thermoelectric-power water use
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Abstract
Thermoelectric (TE) power plants withdraw more water than any other sector of water use in the United States and consume water at rates that can be significant especially in water-stressed regions. Historical TE water-use data have been inconsistent, incomplete, or discrepant, resulting in an increased research focus on improving the accuracy and availability of TE water-use data using modeling approaches. This paper describes and benchmarks new code that was developed to automate and update a physics-based TE water use model that was previously published. Utilizing the automated physics-based model, monthly TE-power water withdrawal and consumption were calculated for a total of 1341 TE power plants for the 2008–2020 historical reanalysis. The updated and automated physics-based thermoelectric-power water-use model provides spatially and temporally relevant TE water-use estimates that are consistent, reproducible, transparent, and can be generated efficiently for water-using, utility-scale TE-power plants across conterminous United States (CONUS).
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Automating physics-based models to estimate thermoelectric-power water use |
| Series title | Environmental Modelling and Software |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106265 |
| Volume | 185 |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Idaho Water Science Center, National Research Program - Western Branch, New England Water Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center |
| Description | 106265, 16 p. |
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