Assessment of the water footprint for the European power sector during the transition towards a 100% renewable energy system

摘要: The transition towards a 100% renewable energy system may be an opportunity to resolve the water-energy nexus. However, deployment of some technologies might impose additional strain on water ecosystems. An energy-system-wide analysis of water demand in Europe was performed for the period 2015–2050 using the LUT Energy System Transition model for two scenarios: Area (with electricity interconnections) and Regions (without). For fossil-fuelled power plants, the water footprint in 20 European regions may decrease considerably until 2050, by 28.3% in the ‘Area scenario’ and 24.2% in the ‘Regions scenario’. However, total water demand in the Area scenario increases in 5 regions on average by 14%, from 7% (Balkan-West countries) to 24% (Sweden). Further, Turkey, Norway and Sweden may have the largest water demands in Europe due to the commissioning of new hydropower plants. Results …