Overview of Energy-Water Program Areas

1
Overview of Energy-Water Program Areas

• Recommendations of the Energy-Water SWOT
• May 2006

National Energy Technology Laboratory
2
Energy-Water Issues and Current Program Activities
3
Water-Energy IssuesThermoelectric Power
Generation

• Thermoelectric power generation withdrew 39 of
  all freshwater withdrawn in the US in 2000,
  according to USGS report.
• Thermoelectric power generation consumed only 3
  of freshwater consumed in 1995 (the most recent
  year water consumption data is available).
• Other impacts of thermoelectric power generation
• Thermal pollution
• Intake structure entrainment
• Air pollution becomes water pollution

4
New Restrictions on Once-Through Cooling
Considered

• California State Lands Commission proposal, dated
  February 9, 2006, calls for elimination of
  once-through cooling at existing coastal power
  plants in 2020.
• California has 21 coastal power plants that use
  once-through cooling.
• Located on bays and estuaries where sensitive
  fish nurseries are located.
• Authorized to withdraw and discharge 16.7 billion
  gallons of ocean water daily.
• California State Water Resources Control Board
  recommended assessment of alternatives before
  adoption of the resolution.

5
Water-Energy Issues Coal Production

• Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from both active and
  abandoned mines is a concern.
• 2002 EPA report estimates that 10 of
  pollution-impaired rivers and streams in the US
  is a result of natural resource extraction
  operations.
• Coal washing also impacts water quality and
  quantity.

(DOE, 2005)
6
Water-Energy IssuesNatural Gas and Oil
Production

• Approximately 10 barrels of produced water are
  pumped to the surface for each barrel of oil
  produced in the US.
• Coalbed methane produced waters are a major
  concern in Wyoming and Montana.
• Produced water is considered a waste product and
  may contain volatile compounds, organics,
  ammonia, solids, and hydrogen sulfide.
• Currently most common disposal methods are
  surface discharge or re-injection for disposal or
  enhanced production.
• EPA is considering further discharge regulations
  on produced water quality.

Oil and Gas Producing States (API, 2005)
7
Water-Energy IssuesElectricity for Water

• The connection between energy and water works
  both ways
• Water is needed for fossil fuel extraction,
  processing, and electricity generation.
• Electricity is necessary for water treatment and
  water pumping.
• Water and wastewater systems consume 3 of the
  annual U.S. electricity consumption according to
  a 1999 Electric Power Research Institute report.
• In California, an estimated 7 of all electricity
  consumed is used for pumping water.

8
Water-Energy IssuesRegulations and Legislation

• Clean Water Act and its Amendments provide for
  the regulation of discharges to the Nations
  surface waters
• Safe Drinking Water Act requires actions to
  protect the Nations public drinking water
  supply.
• Additional state and regional regulations apply
  and vary with location.
• Energy Policy Act of 2005 instructs the Secretary
  of the DOE to address issues related to adequate
  water supplies, optimal management, efficient use
  of water, and efficient use of energy.

9
Current NETL Energy-Water RD- Strategic Center
for Coal -

• In 2002, NETL initiated RD activities under its
  Innovations for Existing Plants (IEP) program
  specifically directed toward developing
  cost-effective approaches to better manage
  freshwater use and water quality impacts
  associated with coal-fired power plant
  operations.
• The program goal is to reduce power plant water
  withdrawals and consumption by 5-10 percent by
  2015 and to minimize potential impacts on water
  quality.

10
IEP Water Activities

• IEP energy-water RD expenditures averaged
  approximately 1 million per fiscal year for
  2002-2005.
• Non-Traditional Sources of Process and Cooling
  Water
• Innovative Water Reuse and Recovery
• Advanced Cooling Technology
• Advanced Water Treatment and Detection Technology

11
New IEP Projects for FY 2006-07

• The IEP program selected seven additional
  projects in November 2005 with a total value of
  more than 5 million.
• Development and demonstration of mine water usage
  to cool thermoelectric power plants
• Investigation of the use of condensing heat
  exchangers to recover water from boiler flue gas
• Evaluation of condensing technology applied to
  wet evaporative cooling towers
• Development of membrane separation and
  scale-inhibitor technologies to enable power
  plant use of impaired waters
• Pilot-scale demonstration of use of a variety of
  impaired waters for cooling
• Demonstration of regenerative heat exchange to
  reduce fresh water use in plants with wet flue
  gas desulfurization
• Development of scale-prevention technologies and
  novel filtration methods

12
Current NETL Energy-Water RD- Strategic Center
for Natural Gas and Oil -

• The Oil and Gas Environmental Program addresses
  water-related issues including the injection of
  water for oil recovery, produced water and its
  effects on the environment, treatment of process
  waters, and the availability of water in arid
  lands.
• Individual projects fall into two general
  categories.
• Water management approaches and analyses.
• Produced water management technology and
  beneficial use.

13
Oil and Gas Environmental Program- Water
Management Approaches and Analyses -

• Effluent limitation guidelines for CBM produced
  water.
• Impacts to underground freshwater sources from
  hydraulic fracturing of CBM wells.
• Evaluation of water and waste issues that could
  effect the gas and oil industry.
• Hydrology, geochemistry, microbiology, geology,
  and ecosystem dynamics of the Osage-Skiatook
  Petroleum Reserve sites.
• Phytoremediation and salinity reduction of CBM
  produced waters.
• Produced water management practices to extend
  productive life of oil and gas wells.
• Produced water quality and infrastructure GIS
  database for New Mexico.

14
Oil and Gas Environmental Program- Produced
Water Management Technology and Beneficial Use-

• Use of ionic liquids for produced water
  treatment.
• Use of infiltration ponds for CBM produced water
  treatment.
• Life cycle assessment of produced water and waste
  management practices.
• Analysis of state programs related to the
  security, reliability and growth of the nations
  domestic production relating to the use of
  groundwater.
• Hydrophobic aerogel technology to remove organic
  compounds from drilling and produced waters.
• Reverse osmosis through molecular sieve zeolite
  membranes to treat CBM produced waters.
• Computational tool to predict water-soluble
  organic content in brines from deep-well
  off-shore oil production.
• Validation of toxicity tests to evaluate the
  potential for beneficial use of produced water.

15
Current NETL Energy-Water RD- Geosciences
Division (OSER) -

• Research directed at water issues related to the
  cradle-to-grave use of fossil energy.
• Better understanding of hydrological and
  geological systems that are impacted by the
  extraction and use of fossil fuels.
• Remote sensing systems and advanced technologies
  that simplify and reduce the cost and complexity
  of AMD treatment operations and make use of the
  beneficial properties of mine water.

16
Geosciences Division (OSER)

• Airborne Geophysical Mapping
• Application of airborne sensing and geophysical
  analysis tools for assessment of watershed-scale
  areas.
• Modeling and Laboratory Simulations
• Study flow in fractured rock on a microscopic
  scale.
• Core flow laboratory that allows NETL researchers
  to measure rock properties and permeability at
  various pressure and temperature conditions
• Mine Pool Treatment and Beneficial Use
• Construction and evaluation of a water-powered
  treatment system at an abandoned anthracite mine.
  
• Demonstration of a semi-passive water treatment
  system, consisting of an overshot water-wheel
  powered lime feeder installed at a standard
  aerobic wetland.

17
Current NETL Energy-Water Efforts- Office of
Systems, Analyses Planning-

• Analysis and quantification of key effects of
  potential future climate change on the U.S.
  electricity sector.
• Use of the Energy Information Administrations
  2004 Annual Energy Outlook reference case
  forecast of electricity generating capacity to
  estimate future freshwater requirements for both
  total and coal-based thermoelectric generation.
• Study of power plant water consumption focusing
  on Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC)
  power systems.

18
Recommended Program Areas

• Water and Energy Reduction and Recovery from
  Fossil Fuel Production
• Advances in Water Use for Power Plant Cooling
• Innovative Water Reuse and Recovery for Power
  Plants
• Technology Development for Use of Non-Traditional
  Waters
• Development and Application of Analyses and
  Technology Concepts

19
Water and Energy Reduction and Recovery from
Fossil Fuel Production

• Oil and Gas
• Approximately 10 barrels (420 gallons) of
  produced water are pumped to the surface for each
  barrel of oil produced in the United States.
• Coal Bed Methane
• Coal bed methane produced waters are a major
  issue in Wyoming and Montana.
• Coal
• Coal mining also impacts freshwater,
  with the greatest impact due to acid
  mine drainage.

20
Program Element Description

• Water and Energy Reduction and Recovery from
  Fossil Fuel Production
• Produced water is a concern to oil, gas, and CBM
  producers. Acid mine drainage is a problem faced
  by coal producers
• Current NETL research focuses on produced water
  and examines treatment and beneficial uses of the
  water
• Proposed program element would continue and
  expand research on reduction and recovery of
  energy and of water resources during fossil fuel
  production.

21
Produced Water Forecast
22
Water Production Associated With Coal Bed Methane
Extraction
23
Water and Energy Reduction and Recovery from
Fossil Fuel Production

• Research areas would include
• Produced water management
• Approaches to revolutionize water treatment and
  turn waste by-product into a resource.
• Application of various airborne and ground-based
  geophysical techniques for the mapping of
  expanding mine pools and as tools for predicting
  and reducing hydrological impacts for future
  mining operations.
• Engineering post-mining water use for both
  abandoned and active mining operations.
• In-situ water treatment and water handling
  schemes that would permit energy recovery
  options.

24
Water and Energy Reduction and Recovery from
Fossil Fuel Production
Proposed Menu of RDD Projects Timing
Engineer the quality of the mine pool and the infrastructure that would be needed for eventual use of mine pool water during the active mining phase of the operation. Mid-Term
Develop improved coal mining techniques that minimize impacts on water availability and quality. Mid-Term
Investigate energy recovery applications for mine pool water storage/recovery activities. Long-Term
Demonstrate use of coal mine voids for water storage and geothermal applications. Long-Term
Demonstrate water treatment technology for use of produced waters for agriculture and potable water applications. Long-Term
Demonstrate technologies for locating infiltration impoundments in the Powder River flood plain. Long-Term
25
Advances in Water Use for Power Plant Cooling

• Innovative Water Reuse and Recovery for Power
  Plants
• The United States Geological Survey estimated
  that in 2000, U.S. thermoelectric generation used
  approximately 136,000 million gallons of
  freshwater per day, accounting for approximately
  39 of freshwater used in the country.
• Technology Development for Use of Non-Traditional
  Waters
• Water quality requirements for many
  energy applications can be less restrictive
  than for other applications such as
  drinking water supplies or agricultural
  applications.

26
Program Element Description

• Advances in Water Use for Power Plant Cooling
  Innovative Water Reuse and Recovery for Power
  Plants
• Thermoelectric power generation withdrew an
  estimated 39 of all freshwater withdrawn in 2000
• Current NETL research involves technologies to
  reuse power plant cooling water and associated
  waste heat to recover water from coal and power
  plant flue gas
• Proposed program element would continue and
  expand current research. Program expansion would
  involve development of system analysis tools and
  procedures for systematic power plant management.

27
Freshwater Withdrawal by Sector in 2000
Source USGS. Estimated Use of Water in the
United States in 2000, USGS Circular 1268. March
2004.
28
Innovative Water Reuse and Recovery for Power
Plants

• Research areas would include
• Cost-effective alternatives to the use of
  freshwater in power plants via advances in dry
  cooling through development of better heat
  transfer materials.
• Other improvements in cooling technology that
  would require less water or involve less
  consumptive loss.
• Recovery of water from high moisture content low
  rank western coals.

29
Advances in Water Use for Power Plant Cooling
Innovative Water Reuse and Recovery for Power
Plants
Proposed Menu of RDD Projects Timing
Investigate reclamation and/or recycle of waters that would traditionally be discharged to local water bodies. Near-Term
Research the recovery of water from high moisture content low rank western coals. Near-Term
Develop technologies to treat alternative water sources to meet power plant quality standards. Mid-Term
Improve cooling technology to enable reduced water withdrawal and consumption. Long-Term
Develop better heat transfer materials to improve dry cooling. Long-Term
30
Program Element Description

• Advances in Water Use for Power Plant Cooling
  Technology Development for Use of Non-Traditional
  Waters
• Water quality requirements for energy
  applications can be less restrictive than other
  applications
• Current NETL research developments cost-effective
  approaches to using non-traditional sources of
  water to supplement power plant needs.
• Proposed program element would continue and
  expand current research. Expansion would involve
  use of non-traditional waters by all sectors of
  the power industry.

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Example of Mine Pool Utilization

• Benefits to mine pool water utilization
• Provide cooling makeup water for adjacent and
  downstream power plants
• Provide water to river during low flow to benefit
  in-stream use and biological systems.
• Dilute unregulated point and non-point pollution
  discharges
• Control mine flooding
• Improve quality of mine pool/CBM produced waters

Source DOE/NETL. Electric Utilities and Water
Emerging Issues and RD Needs. Presentation.
April 2003.
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Technology Development for Use of Non-Traditional
Waters

• Research areas would include
• Non-traditional waters for energy projects
  located in arid or water challenged areas.
• Examination of existing infrastructure issues.
• Application of storm water energy recovery
  approaches.
• Use of non-traditional waters by all sectors of
  the power industry.

33
Advances in Water Use for Power Plant Cooling
Technology Development for Use of Non-Traditional
Waters
Proposed Menu of RDD Projects Timing
Investigate use of mine pool water for power plant applications. Near-Term
Investigate use of produced water for power plant applications. Near-Term
Create and maintain a reliable database of quantity and quality of conventional (surface and ground) and alternative water resources. Mid-Term
Research existing infrastructure issues and their impacts to uses of non-traditional waters Mid-Term
Investigate use of industrial wastewater for power plant applications. Long-Term
Investigate use of brackish water for power plant applications. Long-Term
Investigate use of municipal wastewater for power plant applications. Long-Term
34
Development and Application of Analyses and
Technology Concepts

• A broader understanding of issues related to
  water and energy is necessary to achieve lasting
  success in their reduction, reuse, and recovery.
  
• Development of analysis and planning tools is
  integral to the success of the other recommended
  program areas.
• Development of tools, sensors, data, and
  geographical information systems that enhance
  understanding of energy- water issues
  and aid in the development of novel
  concepts for their mitigation.

35
Program Element Description

• Development and Application of Analyses and
  Technology Concepts
• Broader understanding of water and energy issues
  is needed to achieve lasting success in their
  reduction, reuse, and recovery
• Current NETL efforts include OSAP studies and
  assessments of complex, large systems and
  interactions among those systems
• Proposed program element would continue and
  expand current systems analysis. Expansion would
  involve development of analysis tools,
  applications, and assessments related to
  water-energy issues.

36
Development and Application of Analyses and
Technology Concepts

• Development of tools and sensors to conduct
• Geographical information system (GIS) analysis.
• Investigation of the hydrogeology of
  watershed-scale areas.
• Analysis of the cost of water treatment
  processes.
• Assessment of policy and regulatory issues.
• Areas of analysis would include
• Reduction of the long-term costs of acid mine
  drainage.
• Water resource needs for longer-term future
  energy scenarios.
• Long-term research requirements.

37
Development and Application of Analyses and
Technology Concepts
Proposed Menu of RDD Projects Timing
Develop advanced sensors and other techniques to improve management of water resources. Near-Term
Investigate impacts of long-term future energy scenarios on proposed program areas. Near-Term
Perform techno-economic studies of water-related technologies currently funded by NETL. Near-Term
Assess the impact of advanced cooling technologies on FutureGen. Near-Term
Determine projected national and regional water demand under various scenarios. Near-Term
Assess available systems/technologies for produced water management/treatment focusing on marginal wells and the costs of acquiring, treating, managing, and discharging produced water while clearly identifying the cost drivers. Near-Term
38
Development and Application of Analyses and
Technology Concepts (Continued)
Proposed Menu of RDD Projects Timing
Conduct a power plant cooling system performance study that incorporates sensitivity to regional climate variations. Mid-Term
Estimate the quantity of water needed for potentially new Fossil Energy program areas, such as emerging energy resources and technology. Mid-Term
Investigate the possibility and impacts of IGCC integration with municipal waste water treatment plants and desalination plants. Mid-Term
Investigate the relative change in water usage and consumption for distributed generation compared to central station power generation. Mid-Term
Assess the impact of increased rate of mining over historical experience on water quality and availability. Mid-Term
39
Development and Application of Analyses and
Technology Concepts (Continued)
Proposed Menu of RDD Projects Timing
Improve analytical methods associated with lower-level water pollutants. Long-Term
Evaluate key regulations/policies in each state with respect to their impacts on produced water availability/management, and determine RD needs. Long-Term
Investigate the impact of various hydrogen economy futures on water resources. Long-Term
Study methods to reduce the long-term costs of acid mine drainage treatment. Long-Term