Water management and the electricity-generation sector
Project details
| Objective: | To investigate the impact of changed water availability on electricity generation in Australia |
| Funding: | Up to $200,000 with $100,000 plus applicable GST from the Australian Government Water Fund. |
| Jurisdiction: | National |
| Commenced: | June 2008 |
| Completion: | Completed December 2008 |
About the project
Approximately 65 per cent of the generating capacity in the national electricity market is dependent on fresh water (hydro-electric) for energy or cooling (coal- or gas-fired) generation. Drought-related water availability has increasingly affected the capacity of freshwater-dependent generators to generate electricity over several years. The combined effect of the water reform, changed water availability through drought and climate change and increased demand for water and electricity will lead to the need for the electricity generation sector to factor water security and efficiency issues into its investment strategies.
Project benefits
The study investigated the impact of changed water availability on electricity generation in Australia including the following:
- implications of changed water availability and potential water scarcity on the electricity generation sector for short- and long-term strategic investment decisions
- available innovative options for the sector to respond to changed water availability.
The project progressed the National Water Initiative (NWI) objectives of advancing implementation of the NWI. It contributes to improved water planning of the sector, ensuring sound information is available to the sector and increasing water use efficiency in the commercial setting of the sector.
Report
With the publication of the project report, this project is complete.