China’s thirst for (clean) power

Coal saved China’s hydro-reliant provinces during this summer’s extreme drought. But using thermal plants to prop up the grid during dry periods risks exacerbating the problem of water stress

• Coal burn rose 96% in Sichuan this summer, driving up thermal cooling water consumption during an acute drought

• The water burden of this additional thermal generation equates to meeting the needs of a population of 1.2 million people

• Much of this extra coal burn is unnecessary, and could be avoided by reforming markets and expanding transmission capacity/…