Johns Hopkins SAIS expert available to discuss improved methodology for life cycle assessments
EXPERT ADVISORY
The switch from coal to gas-fired electricity can result in substantial net water reductions because electricity generated by gas consumes less water than when generated by coal technologies. While hydraulic fracturing is generally known to consume as much as four times more water than conventionally produced natural gas, its consumption is considered relatively small when compared to the water required for electric power in life cycle assessments of electricity generation.
Specific watersheds can experience substantial increases in water usage despite the net water benefits of the coal-to-gas transition if they offer an economically viable source of water for hydraulic fracturing operations, according to a new article co-authored by Dr. Sarah Marie Jordaan, Assistant Professor of Energy, Resources and Environment at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Dr. Jordaan along with University of Cambridge Professor Laura Diaz Anadon and Lauren Patterson, Policy Associate in the Water Policy Program at the Duke University Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy, examined the spatially-resolved inventory of changes in water consumption associated with the coal-to-gas transition in Pennsylvania at the resolution of watersheds.
In this case, the scholars specifically compare total water consumption for the coal-to-gas transition to a case of water consumption across two life cycle stages of electricity generation during fuel extraction and use at the power plant to generate electricity.
The study suggests that methods used in life cycle assessment should be spatially-explicit to account for these geographic differences. The scholars say this approach can be used to complement life cycle assessments and help to better inform policymakers and the industry about where energy developments may pose additional risks to water supply and availability.
“While the water consumed by hydraulic fracturing is low relative to both coal- and gas-fired power, specific watersheds may experience disproportionate increases in water consumption because of increasing shale gas production,” Dr. Jordaan said. “But some watersheds may experience net benefits if coal-fired power is replaced with gas-fired power, or if coal is retired without new energy projects. Our approach can capture these spatially-differentiated trade-offs.”
Dr. Jordaan is available to further discuss:
- What are the impacts of hydraulic fracturing at the watershed-scale?
- Why do specific watersheds experience disproportionate increases in water consumption?
- How can gas-fired power be more beneficial than coal-generated power?
- Why do spatially-explicit methods result in more accurate assessments?
Read more: A spatially-resolved inventory analysis of the water consumed by the coal-to-gas transition of Pennsylvania
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About Johns Hopkins SAIS
A division of Johns Hopkins University, the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) is a global institution that offers students an international perspective on today's critical issues. For nearly 75 years, Johns Hopkins SAIS has produced great leaders, thinkers, and practitioners of international relations. Public leaders and private sector executives alike seek the counsel of the faculty, whose ideas and research inform and shape policy. Johns Hopkins SAIS offers a global perspective across three campus locations: Bologna, Italy; Nanjing, China; and Washington, D.C. The school’s interdisciplinary curriculum is strongly rooted in the study of international economics, international relations, and regional studies, preparing students to address multifaceted challenges in the world today.
For more information, visit sais-jhu.edu or @SAISHopkins
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