Fig. 2: Transition scenario for the Danube river based on the BPS. | Nature Energy

Fig. 2: Transition scenario for the Danube river based on the BPS.

From: Global scenarios for significant water use reduction in thermal power plants based on cooling water demand estimation using satellite imagery

Fig. 2

a, Thermal power plants located within 10 km of the Danube river and with a power capacity of at least 50 MW. b,c, Annual changes in freshwater consumption (median values and minimum–maximum (min–max) intervals), both aggregated (b) and by fuel type used in power production (c). d,e, Annual changes in freshwater withdrawal (median values and min–max intervals), both aggregated (d) and by fuel type (e). Panel c highlights a decline in water consumption by nuclear power plants in 2020–2025. This can be explained by the fact that 44.4% of the active nuclear power capacity located at the Danube is scheduled for decommissioning during this period as ‘very old’ assets. These capacities are currently cooled by cooling towers, and thus there is a sudden drop in water consumption during 2020–2025. In contrast, water withdrawals do not follow the same trend (e). The water withdrawals are mostly caused by once-through cooled nuclear power plants (3,226 MW), which are scheduled to be gradually decommissioned by 2050.

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