Water footprint comparison of a naphtha-fired combined cycle power plant and a coal-fired steam power plant

The vulnerability of the power generation industries vulnerability to the availability of water is widespread and growing. In this regard, water footprint (WF) is one method to assess this challenge. The present study conducts the WF of a naphtha-fired combined cycle power plant (CCPP) and a coal-fired steam power plant (CSPP). For carrying out WF, it is prudent to look after water consumption during operations and the supply chain stages. Hence, in this regard, two methods have been adopted to investigate the WF of both power plants. The first method deals with the water balance mass diagram (direct WF), and the second method deals with the water supply chain (indirect WF). Evaporation loss appears to be a significant contributing factor to the direct WF. On the other hand, operational WF seems to be an essential contributing factor to indirect WF. Furthermore, the result also shows that specific water consumption in CSPP is 3.54 m(3)/h, whereas, in CCPP, it is 0.9 m(3)/h. Finally, some methods have also been suggested to reduce WF in both power plants.