Switching to Solar or Wind Energy Could Save Billions of Gallons of Water in the US
In Washington D.C., a recent study highlights the benefits of transitioning from coal to natural gas in the US electricity sector, significantly reducing water usage. Andrew Kondash, a researcher at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, explains that using natural gas instead of coal saves 10,500 gallons of water per megawatt from rivers and groundwater, and 260 gallons in plant operations. The study, published in ‘Environmental Research Letters’, 2019, suggests that switching to solar or wind power could enhance these savings further.
Avner Vengosh, a professor at Duke, notes that while the focus has been on climate and air quality benefits, the transition to natural gas and renewable energy sources has saved billions of gallons of water. Despite increased water use from fracking, water consumption drops by 260 gallons per megawatt. By 2030, if the trend continues, 483 billion cubic meters of water could be saved annually. Converting all coal plants to natural gas could save 12,250 billion gallons annually, 260% of current US industrial water use.
Natural gas power plants use less water for cooling than coal plants, contributing to substantial savings, as 40% of US water use is for cooling thermoelectric plants. Vengosh emphasizes that switching to solar or wind energy could further reduce water withdrawals and consumption, as their water intensity is only 1% to 2% of coal or natural gas. In 2018, natural gas provided 35.1% of US electricity, surpassing coal at 27.4%, with wind and solar contributing 6.5% and 2.3%, respectively, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Doubts Revealed
Solar Energy -: Solar energy is power that we get from the sun. We use special panels called solar panels to capture sunlight and turn it into electricity.
Wind Energy -: Wind energy is power that we get from the wind. We use big machines called wind turbines that look like giant fans to capture wind and turn it into electricity.
Coal -: Coal is a black or brown rock that we burn to make electricity. It is not very good for the environment because it creates a lot of pollution.
Natural Gas -: Natural gas is a type of fuel that we use to make electricity. It is cleaner than coal but still not as clean as solar or wind energy.
Megawatt -: A megawatt is a unit of power. It is used to measure how much electricity is being produced or used. One megawatt can power about 1,000 homes for an hour.
Cubic Meters -: A cubic meter is a way to measure volume, like how much space something takes up. It’s like a big box that is one meter long, one meter wide, and one meter tall.
Cooling -: Cooling in power plants is a process where water is used to cool down the machines that make electricity. This helps the machines work better and not overheat.
