Abstract
Coal-fired power plants (CPPs) are important participants in the field of climate change. Many CPPs rely on large amounts of water, which makes them vulnerable to climate change. Through the theoretical modeling and case study, the paper investigated the climate change adaptation strategies of CPPs from both short-run and long-run perspectives. In the short-run, the role of increasing cooling water intake to adapt to the adverse climate conditions is limited by local water supply capacity, environmental regulations, and existing technology. In the long-run, the CPP operator’s adaptation retrofitting decisions are affected by multiple factors including the expected impacts of climate change, remaining lifespan, initial retrofit cost, and interest rate. But climate change information may not make difference to CPP operators’ adaptation decisions in some circumstances. No matter adaptation retrofit can bring “additional benefits,” the government’s incentive policies can induce the CPP operator to invest in adaptation retrofit no later than when the impacts of climate change appear. The incentive policies’ ability to promote adaptation strategies to break through the profit threshold is the key to achieve the government’s expected adaptation strategies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Notes
Although there may be no obvious boundary between short-run and long-run, in this study, we assume that the short-run is less than 1 year and the long-run is more than 1 year.
Some regions constraint the amount of heat discharged into the natural river. Here, we abstract from environmental regulations because (1) the information to incorporate this limitation into empirical applications is lacking and (2) the temperature limitation on the cooling water serves a very similar purpose.
The efficiency loss is not taken into consideration here, that is, \(\delta =0\), and then \(\eta ={\eta }_{D}\) according to Eq. (2)
The state that all combinations of water inflow, coal intake, and temperature increase for which the firm produces at full capacity (see the supplementary Appendix B for details).
See the supplementary Appendix C for details.
In order to facilitate modeling and avoid the computational complexity caused by symbol abuse, the retrofit is assumed that it can reduce water consumption to zero, which can be realized by a dry-cooling system. Additionally, if it is not assumed to be zero, it can be replaced by introducing a gap in modeling, so this assumption does not affect the model results.
Please note that the production of CPP is also affected by summer extremes conditions. Since that information is hard to access, Fig. 4 only represents a partial picture of the climate change effects. Additionally, it is assumed that the surface water temperature is the same as the air temperature.
References
Alkon M, He X, Paris AR, Liao W, Hodson T, Wanders N, Wang Y (2019) Water security implications of coal-fired power plants financed through China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Energy Policy 132:1101–1109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.06.044
Bartos MD, Chester MV (2015) Impacts of climate change on electric power supply in the Western United States. Nat Clim Chang 5:748–752. https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE2648
Bogmans CWJ, Dijkema GPJ, Vliet MTHV (2017) Adaptation of thermal power plants: the ( ir ) relevance of climate ( change ) information. Energy Econ 62:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2016.11.012
Chan HR, Fell H, Lange I, Li S (2017) Efficiency and environmental impacts of electricity restructuring on coal-fired power plants. J Environ Econ Manage 81:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2016.08.004
Chandel MK, Pratson LF, Jackson RB (2011) The potential impacts of climate-change policy on freshwater use in thermoelectric power generation. Energy Policy 39:6234–6242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.07.022
Chen H, Qi Z, Dai L, Li B, Xu G, Yang Y (2020) Performance evaluation of a new conceptual combustion air preheating system in a 1000 MW coal-fueled power plant. Energy 193:116739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116739
Coysh D, Johnstone N, Kozluk T, Nachtigall D, Cárdenas Rodríguez M (2020) Vintage differentiated regulations and plant survival: evidence from coal-fired power plants. Ecol Econ 176:106710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106710
Datang International Panshan Power Generation Co., L (2020a) Annual report of enterprise self inspection 2019. https://zxjc.sthj.tj.gov.cn:8888/PollutionMonitor-tj/publishEnterpriseInfo.do?ID=247112131328684 (In Chinese). Accessed 15 Sept 2022
Datang International Power Generation Co., L (2020b) Social responsibility report 2019 of Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd. http://www.dtpower.com/news/site23/20220330/1648607151440.pdf (In Chinese). Accessed 15 Sept 2022
Du X, Jin X, Zucker N, Kennedy R, Urpelainen J (2020) Transboundary air pollution from coal-fired power generation. J Environ Manage 270:110862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110862
Fan H, Zhang Z, Dong J, Xu W (2018) China’s R&D of advanced ultra-supercritical coal-fired power generation for addressing climate change. Therm Sci Eng Prog 5:364–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2018.01.007
Fan J, Wei S, Yang L, Wang H, Zhong P, Zhang X (2019) Comparison of the LCOE between coal- fired power plants with CCS and main low-carbon generation technologies: evidence from China. Energy 176:143–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.04.003
Fan JL, Xu M, Wei S, Shen S, Diao Y, Zhang X (2020) Carbon reduction potential of China’s coal-fired power plants based on a CCUS source-sink matching model. Resour Conserv Recycl 168:105320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105320
Förster H, Lilliestam J (2010) Modeling thermoelectric power generation in view of climate change. Reg Environ Chang 10:327–338
International Energy Agency (2020) Key World Energy Statistics 2020. https://www.iea.org/reports/key-worldenergy-statistics-2020. Accessed 15 Sept 2022
IPCC (2013) Climate change 2013:the fifth assessment report. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
IPCC (2014) Climate change 2014 impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability part A: global and sectoral aspects. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Kirshen P, Ruth M, Anderson W (2008) Interdependencies of urban climate change impacts and adaptation strategies: a case study of Metropolitan Boston USA. Clim Change 86:105–122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-007-9252-5
Kopytko N, Perkins J (2011) Climate change, nuclear power, and the adaptation – mitigation dilemma. Energy Policy 39:318–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.09.046
Liao G, Liu L, Zhang F, Jiaqiang E, Chen J (2019) A novel combined cooling-heating and power ( CCHP ) system integrated organic Rankine cycle for waste heat recovery of bottom slag in coal- fi red plants. Energy Convers Manag 186:380–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.02.072
Liu H, Zhai R, Patchigolla K, Turner P, Yang Y (2020) Performance analysis of a novel combined solar trough and tower aided coal-fired power generation system. Energy 201:117597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.117597
Liu L, Hejazi M, Li H, Forman B, Zhang X (2017) Vulnerability of US thermoelectric power generation to climate change when incorporating state-level environmental regulations. Nat Energy 17109:1–5. https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.109
Lu C, Li W, Gao S (2020) Driving determinants and prospective prediction simulations on carbon emissions peak for China’s heavy chemical industry. J Clean Prod 251:119642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119642
Lubega WN, Stillwell AS (2019) Analyzing the economic value of thermal power plant cooling water consumption. Water Resour Econ 27:100137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wre.2019.01.003
National Energy Administration (2020) National power industry statistics in 2019. http://www.nea.gov.cn/2020-01/20/c_138720881.htm (In Chinese). Accessed 15 Sept 2022
Rübbelke D, Vögelec S (2011) Impacts of climate change on European critical infrastructures: the case of the power sector. Environ Sci Policy 14:53–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2010.10.007
Sangi R, Müller D (2019) Application of the second law of thermodynamics to control: a review. Energy 174:938–953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.03.024
Skoczkowski T, Bielecki S, Węglarz A, Włodarczak M, Gutowski P (2018) Impact assessment of climate policy on Poland’s power sector. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang 23:1303–1349
Sun Q, Miao C, Duan Q (2015) Projected changes in temperature and precipitation in ten river basins over China in 21st century. Int J Climatol 35:1125–1141. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.4043
Tao Y, Yang T (2017) Non-stationary bias correction of monthly CMIP5 temperature projections over China using a residual-based. Int J Climatol 38:467–482. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.5188
Tao Y, Wen Z, Xu L, Zhang X, Tan Q, Li H, Evans S (2019) Technology options: can Chinese power industry reach the CO2 emission peak before 2030? Resour Conserv Recycl 147:85–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.04.020
Tidwell VC, Macknick J, Zemlick K, Sanchez J, Woldeyesus T (2014) Transitioning to zero freshwater withdrawal in the U.S. for thermoelectric generation. Appl Energy 131:508–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.11.028
Tobin I, Greuell W, Jerez S, Ludwig F, Vautard R, Vliet M.T.H. Van, Br F (2018) Vulnerabilities and resilience of European power OPEN ACCESS Vulnerabilities and resilience of European power generation to 1 . 5 ◦ C, 2 ◦ C and 3 ◦ C warming. Environ Res Lett 13:044024
Vivekh P, Bui DT, Islam MR, Zaw K, Chua KJ (2020) Experimental performance evaluation of desiccant coated heat exchangers from a combined first and second law of thermodynamics perspective. Energy Convers Manag 207:112518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.112518
Vliet MTHV, Wiberg D, Leduc S, Riahi K (2016) Power-generation system vulnerability and adaptation to changes in climate and water resources. Nat Clim Chang 6:375–380. https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE2903
Vliet MTHV, Yearsley JR, Ludwig F, Vögele S, Lettenmaier DP, Kabat P (2012) Vulnerability of US and European electricity supply to climate change. Nat Clim Chang 2:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1546
Wang L (2005) Water saving analysis of Datang Panshan Coal-fired Power Plant. In: Proceedings of 9th Annual Conference of the National Large Thermal Power Unit, pp 392–395 (In Chinese)
Wang C, Cao X, Mao J, Qin P (2019a) The changes in coal intensity of electricity generation in Chinese coal- fired power plants. Energy Econ 80:491–501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2019.01.032
Wang J, Duan L, Yang Y, Yang Z, Yang L (2019b) Study on the general system integration optimization method of the solar aided coal- fired power generation system. Energy 169:660–673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2018.12.054
Wang Y, Byers E, Parkinson S, Wada Y, Bielicki JM, Wanders N (2019c) Vulnerability of existing and planned coal-fired power plants in Developing Asia to changes in climate and water resources. Energy Environ Sci 12:3164–3181. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ee02058f
Wang K, Liu J, Xia J, Wang Z, Meng Y, Chen H, Mao G, Ye B (2021) Understanding the impacts of climate change and socio-economic development through food-energy-water nexus: a case study of mekong river delta. Resour Conserv Recycl 167:105390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105390
Wei H, Wu T, Ge Z, Yang L, Du X (2019) Entransy analysis optimization of cooling water fl ow distribution in a dry cooling tower of power plant under summer crosswinds. Energy 166:1229–1240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2018.10.151
Wu D, Ma X, Zhang S, Ma J (2019a) Are more economic efficient solutions ignored by current policy: cost-benefit and NPV analysis of coal-fired power plant technology schemes in China. Ecol Indic 103:105–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.02.039
Wu XD, Ji X, Li C, Xia XH, Chen GQ (2019b) Water footprint of thermal power in China: implications from the high amount of industrial water use by plant infrastructure of coal-fired generation system. Energy Policy 132:452–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.05.049
Zhang X, Liu J, Tang Y, Zhao X, Yang H (2017) China’s coal- fired power plants impose pressure on water resources. J Clean Prod 161:1171–1179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.04.040
Zhang YJ, Jiang L, Shi W (2020) Exploring the growth-adjusted energy-emission efficiency of transportation industry in China. Energy Econ 90:104873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2020.104873
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Wei, P., Peng, Y. & Chen, W. Climate change adaptation mechanisms and strategies of coal-fired power plants. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 27, 55 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-022-10031-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-022-10031-8