Security of Water Supply and Electricity Production: Aspects of Integrated Management

The share of renewable resources in electricity generation, e.g. in Germany, is increasing. The power sector is thus becoming more dependent on climate/weather parameters. During the summer months of the last decade, numerous thermal power plants in Europe had to be throttled due to water shortages and high water temperatures. At the same time, Europe was confronted with a reduction in hydropower production. One method of securing a future electricity supply is to increase the reliability of the water supply for power plants. In this paper, scenarios are presented for future electricity production by hydropower and thermal power plants in the Elbe river basin. Electricity production in hydropower plants will decline by approximately 13 % by 2050. This decline is due to climate change and it could be compensated for by optimizing and modernizing existing hydropower plants. Due to higher efficiencies and the conversion of plant cooling systems, no water shortages are expected in most thermal power plants. However, water shortages are expected to affect the plants in the city of Berlin. Inter- and intra-basin water transfers constitute a possible adaptation option. While the transfer of water from the river Oder would be the most cost-efficient solution from Berlin’s perspective, the transfer of water from the river Elbe would have additional positive effects in the upstream Spree river sub-basin.