The energy and water nexus in Chinese electricity production: A hybrid life cycle analysis

摘要: Abstract Between 2000 and 2010, China׳s electricity production had increased threefold accounted for 50% of domestic 12% global CO 2 emissions in 2010. Substantial changes the fuel mix are urgently required to meet carbon intensity target reducing by 40–45% 2020. Moreover, is second largest consumer water China, but requirements vary significantly between different generation technologies. By integrating process-based life-cycle analysis (LCA) input–output (IOA) through tracking national supply chains, we have provided a detailed account total (g/kWh) consumption (l/kWh) eight technologies – (pulverized) coal, gas, oil, hydro, nuclear, wind, solar photovoltaic, biomass. We demonstrated that shift low renewable technologies, i.e. could potentially save more than 79% per kWh compared current technology generation. If projected wind farms built 2020, Inner Mongolia, one scarce northern provinces, would annually 179 MT (i.e. 44% Mongolia׳s 2008) 418 million m 3 (Mm ) (18% its industrial use with same amount produced from coal.