Cooling water consumption and heat discharges from Dutch electricity plants, 1981-1996
| Unit | 1981 | 1986 | 1991 | 1996 | |
| Cooling water consumption | billion m3 | 10.1 | 9.2 | 8.4 | 6.2 |
| Electricity generation | billion kWh | 55.2 | 56.5 | 59.5 | 58.5 |
| Electricity generation | PJ | 199 | 203 | 214 | 211 |
| Fuel consumption | PJ | 529 | 542 | 348 | 504 |
| Total heat discharged1) | PJ | 330 | 339 | 334 | 293 |
| Heat discharge through cooling water2) | PJ | 297 | 305 | 300 | 263 |
| Average cooling water consumption | m3/kWh | 0.18 | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.11 |
| Average cooling water temperature rise | °C | 7.0 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 10.2 |
| Source: CBS (1998) | CBS/EDC/Oct02 | ||||
| 1) Total discharged heat = fuel consumption - electricity production. 2) The difference in respect of total heat discharge relates to chimney and radiation losses. | |||||
Developments in the use of cooling water
More efficient consumption of cooling water by the Industry and Energy supply target sectors led to substantial reductions in the amounts of cooling water consumed between 1991 and 1996. Electricity plants use large quantities of surface water for cooling during the generation of electricity.
Relevance
With the exception of incidental discharges, cooling water contains hardly any pollutants. Nonetheless, cooling water discharges have a negative impact on the surface water they flow into. The large increase in the temperature of the surface water can lead to lower oxygen levels and therefore fish deaths. Furthermore, increases in water temperature also cause excessive algae growth, blue algae growth and botulism. In dry periods or warm weather, situations may arise in which electricity production cannot continue without exceeding the cooling water standards.
References
- CBS (1998) Statline. Emissies door mobiele bronnen. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
- CBS (1998) Watervoorziening van de industrie en elektriciteitscentrales, 1996. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
- Fuel consumption and electricity generation by Dutch electricity generating stations, 1980-2002
- Water extraction and water consumption in the Netherlands, 1976-1996
Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium
- More information about the consumption of cooling water can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).
