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<br />After identification and quantification of saline sources, efforts were <br />directed to highl.ighting opportunities of using saline water in power- <br />~ plant cooling and industrial processing as well as coal slurry pipelines. <br />~ The WSCC (Western System Coordinating Council) estimates that about <br />UI 15,500 megawatts 'of ;new coal-fired generat ing capacity wi 11 be installed in <br />~ or near the Colorado River Basin in the 1981-1990 period. These projec- <br />tions reflect th~ influence of recent energy conservation measures. An <br />additional 17,000 megawatts of coal-fired generating capacity is antici- <br />pated in the Basi'n by the 1990's. <br />I <br />About 42 potential powerplant and synfuel facility sites located in the <br />Basin were screened1for saline water use. Those 42 sites are active <br />as well as dormarit in terms of near term potential development. Water <br />supplies for most have already been identified and some have been obtained. <br />Saline water use 'generally has not been considered because of the addi- <br />tional cost. However, if technical and financial barriers can be overcome, <br />saline water use ,on a large scale could be achieved. The needs for cooling <br />water in the 1980's:for 15,500 megawatts of installed capacity would be <br />about 185,000 acre-feet per year. A similar volume could be used in the <br />1990's. In view of 't he 610,000 acre-feet per year saline water supply <br />available, a sizable portion of the projected future water requirement for <br />energy development in and near the Basin could be met using saline water. <br />I <br /> <br />The study summarizes projected powerplant additions for the Western States <br />and the Colorado ,River Basin to further delineate the need for cooling <br />water. A significa~t shift in the electrical plant generation mix was seen <br />over the next 25 ,years to coal-fired facilities. For purposes of this <br />study, a coal ma~ket scenario was developed which projects the need for <br />about 50 to 100 million tons of coal to be transported to possible future <br />market centers near1the West Coast. This is based on a conservative view <br />of the combination of possible coal uses illustrated in the following <br />table: . ' <br /> <br /> , <br /> Table 2. - Est imated coal requirements <br /> Total tonnage Total tonnage <br />Coa 1 use Area 1981-1990 1990-2000 <br />. (106 tons/yr) (106 tons/yr) <br /> , <br />Coal-fired Southern California 10 20 <br />powerp 1 ants j Southern California 1 10 <br />Coal gasification <br />Coal export Southern California 5 50 <br />Sub tot a 1 16 80 <br />Coal-fired I Colorado River Basin 34 60 <br />powerp 1 ants I St ates (approx.) <br />Total 50 140 <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />...... <br />