How Solar Energy Reduces Water Usage

The World Electric Power Plants Database covers approximately 30,000 power plants from 164 countries. The power sectors of the world are the largest industrial users of water, and yet there is only data being collected from about half of those power plants.

Although industrialized nations have become big customers for energy, the cooling information needed to estimate their future demands is insufficient. As countries continue to operate day to day, the need for significant amounts of electricity to power their economies increases continually, causing high water stress.

Solar Energy Reduces Water Consumption

One of the most significant ways solar energy reduces water consumption is by decreasing the need for cooling methods that use water. With solar power, there's less water required for cooling. Traditional power plants typically use millions of gallons of water per day to cool turbines and reactors. Coal, nuclear, and natural gas power plants rely heavily on water. The vast majority of the world's electricity is generated by thermoelectric plants that use massive amounts of water for cooling and steam production.

In general, all solar power technologies use a modest amount of water. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants using parabolic trough or power tower technologies must use some form of cooling, while PV solar facilities do not require water for cooling.

Data Centers

With the Industrial Revolution beginning in Great Britain during the 1700s, the world has since grown into a global economy with large-scale manufacturing, mining, and utilities. And in recent decades, there is another to consider - data centers.

Data Centers & Water

Approximately 75% to 90% of data centers worldwide use water in some form. Industry estimates that these facilities rely on water-based systems as their primary method of cooling. The vast majority of large-scale data facilities use open-loop evaporative cooling, meaning they evaporate water as part of the cooling process. This has been the standard because it's effective and energy-saving, but it still consumes water.

Conclusion

Power plants that rely on water can deplete local water resources. Solar energy contributes to water conservation and is an essential part of sustainable power generation. As concerns about water grow in the U.S. and abroad, many are turning to solar energy as an alternative to traditional power generation methods.

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