Water is an integral component of a power plant cooling system. It is used as an heat absorbent in thermoelectric power plants. The large amount of water needed in these power plants is one of the major reasons the are typically located by a river.
Increasing population, in addition to the effects of climate change on water supply, has led to freshwater scarcity in USA, and elsewhere around the world. Thus the availability of freshwater to be used in cooling for thermoelectric power production is becoming increasingly limited.
Interest in alternative sources of water for power plant cooling purpose are increasing for both present and prospective power plants.
