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The ZeroNet Challenge
Thirty-nine percent of the nation's freshwater withdrawals are used for thermoelectric power generation (coal, gas, nuclear). New technologies that reduce this amount could have an enormous positive impact on our nation's water supply. Developing such technologies is the goal of the ZeroNet Initiative. ZeroNet also addresses the critical scientific challenges in understanding and planning for drought. Monitoring test-beds and modeling tools are needed to provide the information necessary to understand climate-landscape interactions, to predict short and long-term water supply levels, and to manage water shortages.
Approach
ZeroNet will deploy and demonstrate the best industry practices for conserving freshwater in power production today while developing the science and technology for low- or no-freshwater generation systems of tomorrow. The ZeroNet partnership between Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM, New Mexico's largest electricity and natural gas provider) provides a unique opportunity to develop and test EPRI and LANL innovations at PNM-operated facilities. EPRI's access to the power industry through its nationwide members ensures widespread deployment of ZeroNet's advances. In addition, the ZeroNet partners are already engaging Systech Engineering, Inc., the University of New Mexico (UNM), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), and the Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE NETL) to ensure the broadest science and technology base for the project.
ZeroNet will leverage PNM planned investment in a produced water pipeline and treatment pilot project to test emerging LANL (and other cutting edge) hydrocarbon removal and desalination treatment technologies, in conjunction with EPRI-sponsored cooling processes. PNM serves as the test utility for new technologies and applications developed by LANL and EPRI that can ultimately be applied throughout the power industry. PNM has been and will continue to provide staffing and financial resources support to LANL and EPRI at PNM facilities.
Through ZeroNet, New Mexico is able to demonstrate leadership in developing and applying innovative solutions to ensure a sustainable power supply in water-restricted regions that span much of the United States. A vigorous economy depends on reducing freshwater demand by the power sector, and ZeroNet-New Mexico is the model for achieving this goal throughout the industry.
Goals and Outcomes
The ZeroNet Water-Energy Initiative seeks to meet new power generation needs with zero net new freshwater withdrawals by 2010. The ZeroNet initiative has three primary goals:
- reduce overall freshwater use in power generation cooling processes;
- augment freshwater with degraded and saline water for power generation cooling;
- use the best available data, models, and analysis tools to plan for responsible water management.
Additional outcomes Expected long-term outcomes of ZeroNet will include the following: :
- new conservation and water treatment technologies that provide greater efficiency and lower operating costs for existing and alternative water resources;
- a framework for quantifying the water budget of the San Juan basin under a range of climate scenarios;
- assessment of the impact of water conservation technology and new water sources (produced water) on the overall freshwater budget for the basin;
- quantification of the impacts of watershed modification, including vegetation changes (e.g., drought-induced die-off of pinyon trees), vegetation management (thinning), and wildfire on regional hydrologic processes;
- assessment of alternative management strategies under water shortage scenarios.
What is the ZeroNet Decision Support System (DSS)?
The ZeroNet DSS, with foundations in geographic information system (GIS) technology and stakeholder input, is designed to provide tools that synthesize critical water supply and demand information and assist water owners and managers with planning for shortages. The ZeroNet DSS can answer critical management questions in a scientific and economic context. For example: Can new technology help to avert impending water shortages? How will changing climate (drought, warmer temperatures…) affect freshwater supply? How will watershed modification (vegetation, land use, fire…) affect freshwater supply? Can coordination and cooperation among water users (shortage sharing, conservation, water markets…) avert critical freshwater shortages?
