Freshwater for Cooling Needs: A Long-Run Approach to the Nuclear Water Footprint in Spain

Diego Sesma Martín and Mª. del Mar Rubio-Varas
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Maria del Mar Rubio Varas

Ecological Economics, 2017, vol. 140, issue C, 146-156

Abstract: From the invention of the steam engine to the present, water has represented a significant input to the energy system, although this has been mostly ignored in the literature. In Spain, the most arid country in Europe, studies about water footprint typically just consider domestic, agricultural and industrial water uses, but water requirements for the electricity sector are omitted despite our dependence on thermal power. It has been demonstrated that for each available cooling technology, nuclear needs and consumption of water tend to be larger per MWh generated. We calculate a first approximation to the Spanish nuclear water footprint from 1969 to 2014. Our results show that while water consumed by Spanish nuclear power plants are around 3 m3 per capita/year, water withdrawals per capita/year are around 70 m3. Moreover, our analysis allows extracting conclusions focusing on a River Basins approach. What is the water impact of our nuclear power plants? Will water limit our energy future? These are some of the issues at stake.

Keywords: Energy; Water Footprint; Cooling Technology; Nuclear; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N54 Q25 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:140:y:2017:i:c:p:146-156

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.04.032

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