Skip to main content

Managing Scarce Water Resources in China’s Coal Power Industry

Environmental Management volume 57, pages 1188–1203 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Coal power generation capacity is expanding rapidly in the arid northwest regions in China. Its impact on water resources is attracting growing concerns from policy-makers, researchers, as well as mass media. This paper briefly describes the situation of electricity-water conflict in China and provides a comprehensive review on a variety of water resources management policies in China’s coal power industry. These policies range from mandatory regulations to incentive-based instruments, covering water withdrawal standards, technological requirements on water saving, unconventional water resources utilization (such as reclaimed municipal wastewater, seawater, and mine water), water resources fee, and water permit transfer. Implementing these policies jointly is of crucial importance for alleviating the water stress from the expanding coal power industry in China.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  • Bartos MD, Chester MV (2014) The conservation nexus: valuing interdependent water and energy savings in Arizona. Environ Sci Technol 48:2139–2149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bian Z, Inyang HI, Daniels JL, Otto F, Struthers S (2010) Environmental issues from coal mining and their solutions. Min Sci Technol 20:215–223

    Google Scholar 

  • BNEF (Bloomberg New Energy Finance) (2013) The future of China’s power sector. http://about.newenergyfinance.com/about/content/uploads/sites/4/2013/08/BNEF_2013-08-27_China-power-market-2030_Chinese-executive-summary_final.pdf

  • Borghesi S (2014) Water tradable permits: a review of theoretical and case studies. J Environ Plan Manag 57:1305–1332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer J, Glennon R, Ker A, Libecap G (2008) 2006 Presidential address water markets in the West: prices, trading, and contractual forms. Econ Inq 46:91–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CAE (Chinese Academy of Engineering) (2011) China energy medium and long-term (2030, 2050) development strategy research. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai X (2008) Water stress, water transfer and social equity in Northern China—implications for policy reforms. J Environ Manag 87:14–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai B, Zhang B, Bi J, Zhang W (2014) Energy’s thirst for water in China. Environ Sci Technol 48:11760–11768

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CEACER (China Energy and CO2 Emissions Research Group) (2009) 2050 China Energy and CO2 Emissions Report. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • CEC (China Electricity Council) (2012) A report on 12th Five-Year Plan for power industry (in Chinese). http://www.cec.org.cn/yaowenkuaidi/2012-03-09/81451.html

  • CEC (2013a) Annual report of Chinese power industry. China Market Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • CEC (2013b) Materials of national energy efficiency benchmarking competition for thermal power units 2012 (in Chinese)

  • CEC (2014) China Electric Power Yearbook 2014. China Electric Power Press (in Chinese)

  • Chen Y (2014) Water right mechanism and practice of water right transfer in Yellow River Basin. J Econ Water Resour 32(1):23–26 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Tao Y, Liu X, Lu L, Jiang Z, Zhai R, Yu H (2009) Study on factors of water right trading’s price in Ningxia Yinhuang irrigation region. China Rural Water Hydropower 2:40–43 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H, Hu Y (2012) Improving China’s water resources management for better adaptation to climate change. Clim Change 112:253–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H, Hu Y, Zhao J (2009) Meeting China’s water shortage crisis: current practices and challenges. Environ Sci Technol 43:240–244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dinar A, Mody J (2004) Irrigation water management policies: allocation and pricing principles and implementation experience. Nat Resour Forum 28:112–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang G, Xu L, Wu W, Tan W (2002) A survey of water resources fee levying and management in China. J Econ Water Resour 20(5):33–37 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng K, Hubacek K, Siu YL, Li X (2014) The energy and water nexus in Chinese electricity production: a hybrid life cycle analysis. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 39:342–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Wu Z (2010) Study on the status quo and economic efficiency of using reclaimed water as cooling water for thermal power plants. Energy Technol Econ 22(9):14–21 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • GAQSIQ (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China) (2002) Norm of water intake-part 1: electric power production (GB/T 18916.1-2002) (in Chinese)

  • GAQSIQ, SAC (Standardization Administration of China) (2012) Norm of water intake—part 1: fossil fired power production (GB/T 18916.1-2012) (in Chinese)

  • Gassert F, Landis M, Luck M, Reig P, and Shiao T (2013) Aqueduct Global Maps 2.0. Working Paper. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. http://www.wri.org/publication/aqueduct-metadata-global

  • Green Peace (2012) Thirsty coal: a water crisis exacerbated by China’s new mega coal power bases. Beijing. http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/Global/eastasia/publications/reports/climate-energy/2012/Greenpeace%20Thirsty%20Coal%20Report.pdf

  • Hilton I (2013) China’s coal-fired power industry running out of water. https://www.chinadialogue.net/blog/5857-China-s-coal-fired-power-industry-running-out-of-water/en

  • Huang Q, Rozelle S, Wang J, Huang J (2009) Water management institutional reform: a representative look at northern China. Agric Water Manag 96:215–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Q, Wang J, Easter KW, Rozelle S (2010) Empirical assessment of water management institutions in northern China. Agric Water Manag 98:361–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang Y (2009) China’s water scarcity. J Environ Manag 90:3185–3196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson RC (2000) Pricing irrigation water: a literature survey. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • King CW, Stillwell AS, Twomey KM, Webber ME (2013) Coherence between water and energy policies. Nat Resour J 53:117–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Li G, Liu Z (2007) The ecological and environmental damage and economic loss of coal exploitation in Northern Shaanxi. J Arid Land Resour Environ 21(1):47–50 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li G, Wen Z, Du B, Zhang C, Chen J (2008) An analysis of industrial water conservation potential and selection of key technologies based on the IWCPA model. Resour Conserv Recycl 52:1141–1152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Feng K, Siu YL, Hubacek K (2012) Energy-water nexus of wind power in China: the balancing act between CO2 emissions and water consumption. Energy Policy 45:440–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang J (2014) Heavy haze demands effective pollution control. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/n/2014/1011/c90882-8792981.html

  • Liu Z (2013) Smart grid and the third industrial revolution. Science and Technology Daily. http://www.sgcc.com.cn/shouye/tbxw/299105.shtml (in Chinese)

  • Liu B, Speed R (2009) Water resources management in the People’s Republic of China. Int J Water Resour D 25:193–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu J (2009) Impact of coal mining on the groundwater resources in Jinzhong city. Groundwater 31(3):58–59 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma Z, Xue B, Geng Y, Ren W, Fujita T, Zhang Z, de Oliveira JAP, Jacques DA, Xi F (2013) Co-benefits analysis on climate change and environmental effects of wind-power: a case study from Xinjiang, China. Renew Energy 57:35–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macknick J, Newmark R, Heath G, Hallett KC (2012) Operational water consumption and withdrawal factors for electricity generating technologies: a review of existing literature. Environ Res Lett 7:045802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews O (2004) Fundamental questions about water rights and market reallocation. Water Resources Research 40, W09S08

  • MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China), MWR (Ministry of Water Resources of China), NBS(National Bureau of Statistics of China), NWCO (National Water Conservation Office of China) (2013) Water efficiency guide for key industrial sectors. http://www.miit.gov.cn/n11293472/n11293832/n11293907/n11368223/15668993.html (in Chinese)

  • Mohayidin G, Attari J, Sadeghi A, Hussein MA (2009) Review of water pricing theories and related models. Afr J Agric Res 4:1536–1544

    Google Scholar 

  • MOHURD (Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China) (2015) China Urban-Rural Construction Statistical Bulletin 2014. http://www.mohurd.gov.cn/wjfb/201507/t20150703_222769.html (in Chinese)

  • MWR (2004) Opinions of the Ministry of Water Resources on Pilot Program of Water Right Transfer in the Trunk Stream of the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia and Ningxia. http://www.mwr.gov.cn/zwzc/tzgg/qtxx/200405/t20040521_156761.html (in Chinese)

  • MWR (2013a) China water resources bulletin 2012. http://www.mwr.gov.cn/zwzc/hygb/szygb/qgszygb/201405/t20140513_560838.html (in Chinese)

  • MWR (2013b) Regulations on implementing water resource evaluation for the planning and development of large coal power industrial clusters. http://www.mwr.gov.cn/zwzc/tzgg/tzgs/201312/t20131217_520799.html (in Chinese)

  • MWR (2014a) China water resources bulletin 2013. http://www.mwr.gov.cn/zwzc/hygb/szygb/qgszygb/201411/t20141120_582980.html (in Chinese)

  • MWR (2014b) Notification on implementing pilot water right schemes (in Chinese)

  • NDRC (National Development and Reform Commission of China) (2004) Requirements on the planning and construction of coal power plants. http://www.nea.gov.cn/2012-01/04/c_131262602.htm (in Chinese)

  • NDRC (2012) 12th Five-Year Plan for coal industry development. http://zfxxgk.nea.gov.cn/auto85/201203/t20120322_1456.htm (in Chinese)

  • NDRC, MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology of China), MWR, MOC (Ministry of Construction of China), MOA (Ministry of Agriculture of China) (2005) China water conservation technology policy outline. http://bgt.ndrc.gov.cn/zcfb/200506/t20050602_500425.html (in Chinese)

  • NDRC, NEA (National Energy Administration of China) (2013) Development Plan of mine water utilization. http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2013-01/29/content_2321810.htm (in Chinese)

  • NDRC, SOA (State Oceanic Administration of China), MOF (Ministry of Finance of China) (2005) Development plan for seawater utilization. http://www.sdpc.gov.cn/zcfb/zcfbghwb/200510/t20051013_579674.html (in Chinese)

  • NDRC, MOF, MWR (2013) Notification on questions related to the standard of water resources fee levying. http://www.sdpc.gov.cn/fzgggz/jggl/zcfg/201301/t20130114_522940.html (in Chinese)

  • NEA (2012) The guidelines for cleaner production audit in fossil fired power enterprises (DL/T 287-2012). Beijing (in Chinese)

  • OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) (2010) Pricing water resources and water and sanitation services. OECD studies on water. OECD Publishing, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Pei Y, Yin HJ, Wang TM (2007) Studies on price of water right transfer in Yellow River Basin. China Water Resour 19:56–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders KT (2015) Critical review: uncharted waters? The future of the electricity water nexus. Environ Sci Technol 49(1):51–66

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider K (2011) Choke point: China—confronting water scarcity and energy demand in the world’s largest country. http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2011/world/choke-point-chinaconfronting-water-scarcity-and-energy-demand-in-the-worlds-largest-country/

  • SETC (State Economic and Trade Commission of China) (2001) Guide for water saving of thermal power plant (DL/T 783-2001) (in Chinese)

  • Shen M, Han M (2011) Environmental pollution and water resources utilization in coal-fired power industry. China Environ Prot Ind 1:43–48 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Siddiqi A, Kajenthira A, Anadon LD (2013) Bridging decision networks for integrated water and energy planning. Energy Strateg Rev 2:46–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SOA (2014) National sea water utilization report 2013. http://www.soa.gov.cn/zwgk/hygb/hykjnb_2186/201408/t20140808_33327.html (in Chinese)

  • Song X, Pu H, Ma Y (2012) Thirsty coal: study on the water resources problem of mage coal power bases. China Environmental Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • State Council (1985) Administrative method of accounting, collecting and managing the raw water charges of hydraulic facilities. Beijing

  • State Council (2006) Administrative regulations for water withdrawal permits and water resource fee collection. http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2006-03/06/content_220023.htm (in Chinese)

  • State Council (2012) The 12th five-year plan of the construction of urban wastewater treatment and reuse facilities. http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2012-05/04/content_2129670.htm (in Chinese)

  • State Council (2013a) Atmospheric pollution prevention and control action plan. http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2013-09/12/content_2486773.htm (in Chinese)

  • State Council (2013b) The 12th Five-Year Plan for energy development. http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2013-01/23/content_2318554.htm

  • von Dörte Ehrensperger D (2004) Water management in rural China: the role of irrigation water charges. www.ibrarian.net/navon/paper/Water_Management_in_Rural_China__The_Role_of_Irri.pdf

  • Wang Y (2009) Ecological and environmental impacts of coal mining and countermeasures. Coal Sci Technol 37(12):125–128 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Li C, Zhou J, Luo J, Wang D et al (2007) Study on sea water circulatory cooling technology and present state of its application. Therm Power Gener 11:68–71 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Wei Z, Yang J, Zhang Y, Zhang F et al (2013) The 2013 severe haze over southern Hebei, China: model evaluation, source apportionment, and policy implications. Atmos Chem Phys 14:3151–3173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C, Lin J, Cai W, Liao H (2014) China’s carbon mitigation strategies: enough? Energy Policy 73:47–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webber M, Barnett J, Finlayson B, Wang M (2008) Pricing China’s irrigation water. Glob Environ Change 18:617–625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WRI (World Resources Institute) (2013) Majority of China’s proposed coal-fired power plants located in water-stressed regions, http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/08/majority-china%E2%80%99s-proposed-coal-fired-power-plants-located-water-stressed-regions

  • Wu L, Huo H (2014) Energy efficiency achievements in China’s industrial and transport sectors: how do they rate? Energy Policy 73:38–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Yu Z, Ngan HW, Tan Z (2014) Sustaining China’s electricity market development. Energy Policy 73:30–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie J, Liebenthal A, Warford JJ, Dixon JA, Wang M et al (2008) Addressing China’s water scarcity: recommendations for selected water resource management issues. World Bank. Washington, DC. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2009/01/10170878/addressing-chinas-water-scarcity-recommendations-selected-water-resource-management-issues

  • Yang H, Zhang X, Zehnder AJB (2003) Water scarcity, pricing mechanism and institutional reform in northern China irrigated agriculture. Agric Water Manag 61:143–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yi L, Jiao W, Chen X, Chen W (2011) An overview of reclaimed water reuse in China. J Environ Sci 23:1585–1593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • YRCC (Yellow River Conservancy Commission) (2003) Yellow River Water Resources Bulletin 2003. http://www.yellowriver.gov.cn/other/hhgb/2003.htm (in Chinese)

  • Yu F, Chen J, Sun F, Zeng S, Wang C (2011) Trend of technology innovation in China’s coal-fired electricity industry under resource and environmental constraints. Energy Policy 39:1586–1599

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan J, Lei Q, Xiong M, Guo J, Zhao C (2014) Scenario-based analysis on water resources implication of coal power in western China. Sustainability 6:7155–7180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Anadon LD (2013) Life cycle water use of energy production and its environmental impacts in China. Environ Sci Technol 47:14459–14467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Anadon LD (2014) A multi-regional input-output analysis of domestic virtual water trade and provincial water footprint in China. Ecol Econ 100:159–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Feng J, Yang T (2012) Water use efficiency in thermal power industry and countermeasures for water-saving in China. Water Resour Power 30:190–192 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Anadon LD, Mo H, Zhao Z, Liu Z (2014) Water-carbon trade-off in China’s coal power industry. Environ Sci Technol 48:11082–11089

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Zhong L, Fu X, Wang J, Wu Z (2016) Revealing water stress by the thermal power industry in China based on a high spatial resolution water withdrawal and consumption inventory. Environ Sci Technol 50:1642–1652

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J, Cai X, Wang Z (2013) Comparing administered and market-based water allocation systems through a consistent agent-based modeling framework. J Environ Manag 123:120–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong L, Mol APJ (2010) Water price reform in China: policy-making and implementation. Water Resour Manage 24:377–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong L, Fu X, Wei Z (2015) Water management in China’s coal industry: a policy review, issue brief. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou N, Fridley D, Khanna NZ, Ke J, McNeil M et al (2013) China’s energy and emissions outlook to 2050: perspectives from bottom-up energy end-use model. Energy Policy 53:51–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Chao Zhang is supported by National Science Foundation of China (71503182), "Chenguang Program" of Shanghai Education Development Foundation (14CG20) and Tongji University Sustainable Development and New-Type Urbanization Think Tank. Lijin Zhong, Xiaotian Fu from the World Resources Institute are supported by the Energy Foundation, Irish Aid, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affair, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affair and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Chao Zhang

  2. World Resources Institute China, 9 Dongzhong Street, Beijing, 100027, China

    Lijin Zhong & Xiaotian Fu

  3. General Institute of Water Resources & Hydropower Planning and Design, Ministry of Water Resources of China, 2 North Liupukang Street, Beijing, 100120, China

    Zhongnan Zhao

Authors
  1. Chao Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lijin Zhong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiaotian Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhongnan Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chao Zhang.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

267_2016_678_MOESM1_ESM.doc

A list of water resource management policies and regulations in China’s coal power industry with brief descriptions is presented in Table A1. Supplementary material 1 (DOC 61 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, C., Zhong, L., Fu, X. et al. Managing Scarce Water Resources in China’s Coal Power Industry. Environmental Management 57, 1188–1203 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-016-0678-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-016-0678-2

Keywords

  • Electricity-water nexus
  • Coal power industry
  • Water resource management
  • Unconventional water resources
  • Water resource fee
  • Water permit transfer