Spatial and temporal characteristics of China’s water footprint of energy and its matching relationship with water resources

Abstract

Energy and water resources are very important for human survival and social development. Energy and water footprint can reflect the real occupation of water resources in the process of energy production. Based on the energy and water footprint evaluation model, this paper calculates the life cycle water footprint of fossil energy and power production in 30 provinces (cities and autonomous regions) in China, studies the temporal and spatial pattern evolution characteristics of China’s raw coal, crude oil, natural gas, hydropower and thermal power from 2004 to 2016, and analyzes the spatial matching relationship between China’s energy and water footprint and water resources. The results show that: (1): during the study period, the water footprint of fossil energy increases first and then decreases with 2012 as the boundary. The rapid growth of hydropower water footprint promotes the continuous growth of power water footprint. (2): In terms of spatial pattern, the water footprint of fossil energy increases in the West and decreases in the East with the Huhuanyong line as the boundary, and the Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Shaanxi region as the high-value concentration area; in the power water footprint, there is a significant spatial boundary between hydropower water footprint and thermal power water footprint. The rapid growth of hydropower water footprint has gradually formed a high-value concentration area of power water footprint in the Yangtze River Basin, the Pearl River Basin and the southeast coast. (3): The spatial matching degree of energy and water footprint and water resources fluctuates and declines in the pattern of high in the south and low in the north. The spatial matching degree of fossil energy and water footprint is lower than that of electric power and water resources. The energy water contradiction between raw coal production and thermal power generation is the most prominent. One third of the country has the problem of energy water mismatch. North China with high energy and water footprint has great pressure on energy water matching. The contradiction between energy production and water resources allocation still exists. Truly reflect the matching relationship between energy and water footprint and water resources, help to optimize the comprehensive management of energy and water resources, and provide a quantitative basis for maximizing the energy water synergy.