5 Reality and Challenges of China’s Water Resources Management …
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of circular cooling units with air cooling system. Therefore, the construction of
coal-fired power plants in these regions would aggravate water resources risk,
as water stress cannot be fully alleviated by air cooling units.
(2) Analysis on Water Resources Risk in Future Development of China’s Power
Sector
Water stress criterion says when the water stress index in a certain area reaches
0.05 or above, such area is subject to notable water stress. Given the sole focus
of this study on the power sector, 0.05 is determined as the threshold for water
stress of a specific area. Figure 3.7 illustrates the cumulative probability distribution of water stress of 0.05 or above stemming from coal power plants in
varied scenarios—sustainable development scenario (SSP1), regular development scenario (SSP2) and high challenge scenario (SSP3) and under different
climate targets.
In regular scenario, water stress risk from coal-fired power plants by 2050 will be
concentrated in northwest China and north China catchments. Compared to sustainable development scenario (SSP1), in regular scenario (SSP2) and high challenge
scenario (SSP5), the total number of coal-fired power plants will stabilize or increase
with growing power demand, so the water stress risk in northwest and north China
will not be mitigated; while under the 2 °C target, the power sector in China could
manage to ease water stress risk (index = 0.05) in various catchments in China when
meeting future power demand. However, such risk will not be eradicated and the
coal-fired power aggregate still needs to be capped.
5.4 Policy Recommendations for Confronting Water
Resources Challenge in China
China is and will be plagued by water shortage for a long time to come. Moreover,
agriculture is and will far outstrip industry in making the biggest contribution of over
60% to water consumption. In contrast with the stable water use in agriculture and
industry, household and environmental consumption has been on constant rise. In
the meantime, changes in people’s dietary structure and way of life have given rise to
their indirect water footprint. In this context, continuous upgrade of water efficiency
in agriculture and reduction of water footprint in household consumption hold the
key to easing water stress.
In industrial sectors, besides improvement in water efficiency of water consuming
processes in industrial production, a system-wide optimization of industrial water use
is also essential. The power sector, especially coal-fired power plants that are mainly
built in the arid regions abundant in coal mines but scarce in water, faces more serious
water resource challenges caused by the uneven distribution of water resources.
What’s more, it is expected that the demand for electricity has great potential to
increase along with economic growth and urbanization, and this further force the
power sector to face a serious water resource challenge. Therefore, the share and
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of circular cooling units with air cooling system. Therefore, the construction of
coal-fired power plants in these regions would aggravate water resources risk,
as water stress cannot be fully alleviated by air cooling units.
(2) Analysis on Water Resources Risk in Future Development of China’s Power
Sector
Water stress criterion says when the water stress index in a certain area reaches
0.05 or above, such area is subject to notable water stress. Given the sole focus
of this study on the power sector, 0.05 is determined as the threshold for water
stress of a specific area. Figure 3.7 illustrates the cumulative probability distribution of water stress of 0.05 or above stemming from coal power plants in
varied scenarios—sustainable development scenario (SSP1), regular development scenario (SSP2) and high challenge scenario (SSP3) and under different
climate targets.
In regular scenario, water stress risk from coal-fired power plants by 2050 will be
concentrated in northwest China and north China catchments. Compared to sustainable development scenario (SSP1), in regular scenario (SSP2) and high challenge
scenario (SSP5), the total number of coal-fired power plants will stabilize or increase
with growing power demand, so the water stress risk in northwest and north China
will not be mitigated; while under the 2 °C target, the power sector in China could
manage to ease water stress risk (index = 0.05) in various catchments in China when
meeting future power demand. However, such risk will not be eradicated and the
coal-fired power aggregate still needs to be capped.
5.4 Policy Recommendations for Confronting Water
Resources Challenge in China
China is and will be plagued by water shortage for a long time to come. Moreover,
agriculture is and will far outstrip industry in making the biggest contribution of over
60% to water consumption. In contrast with the stable water use in agriculture and
industry, household and environmental consumption has been on constant rise. In
the meantime, changes in people’s dietary structure and way of life have given rise to
their indirect water footprint. In this context, continuous upgrade of water efficiency
in agriculture and reduction of water footprint in household consumption hold the
key to easing water stress.
In industrial sectors, besides improvement in water efficiency of water consuming
processes in industrial production, a system-wide optimization of industrial water use
is also essential. The power sector, especially coal-fired power plants that are mainly
built in the arid regions abundant in coal mines but scarce in water, faces more serious
water resource challenges caused by the uneven distribution of water resources.
What’s more, it is expected that the demand for electricity has great potential to
increase along with economic growth and urbanization, and this further force the
power sector to face a serious water resource challenge. Therefore, the share and