Water and Energy Systems: A Planning Model

In regions where energy facilities place major demands on the water resources, it is desirable to plan the development of these systems with an understanding of their interrelationships. A mathematical model of these interlocking systems is described. The major model components are the supply and demand points for water, electrical power, and pipeline gas that is produced from coal. The model allocates water to the various demands and locates energy facilities by subregions. Linear programming is used to evaluate the model that is designed for preliminary screening purposes. An application to Illinois demonstrates the utility of sensitivity analysis and parameterization techniques for examining trends and tradeoffs for alternative regional plans. The example also demonstrates the interrelated nature of the water-resources and energy systems and demonstrates the potential impact of a large new coal-conversion industry on water resources.