Power generation sector worldwide accounts for high water withdrawal and consumption due to the hydropower generation and cooling of thermal power plants. Hence, the operation of the power generation sector is constrained by the availability of the water resources, as well as the addition of constrains on water resources used for other purposes, such as irrigation, flood control, water supply, agriculture, etc. The optimal utilization of water resources between the water and energy sector is defined under the term water-energy (or water-power) nexus. This study describes the implementation of hydrological LISFLOOD, Medium-Term Hydrothermal Coordination (DispaSET-MTHC) and Unit Commitment and Dispatch (DispaSET UCD) models for detailed analysis of impacts on the SEE regional power system for three different hydrological years. Results were validated based on the available ENTSO-E data for the average hydrological (2015) year. Moreover, calculations on water withdrawal and consumption for cooling of thermal power plants were added. Addition of water stress index (WSI) calculations can determine locations that could experience water scarcity.
The analysis covered EU Member states in Balkans and Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo , Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (2026): Analysis of the water-power nexus of the Balkan Peninsula power system. [Dataset] doi: 10.2905/JRC.5XRAB20 PID: http://data.europa.eu/89h/aa6eb718-c745-4747-b7f7-d7522ae813b1
BalkanscoolingDispa-SEThydropowerLISFLOODpowerthermal powerwaterWEFE
Power generation sector worldwide accounts for high water withdrawal and consumption due to the hydropower generation and cooling of thermal power plants. Hence, the operation of the power generation sector is constrained by the availability of the water resources, as well as the addition of constrains on water resources used for other purposes, such as irrigation, flood control, water supply, agriculture, etc. The optimal utilization of water resources between the water and energy sector is defined under the term water-energy (or water-power) nexus. This study describes the implementation of hydrological LISFLOOD, Medium-Term Hydrothermal Coordination (DispaSET-MTHC) and Unit Commitment and Dispatch (DispaSET UCD) models for detailed analysis of impacts on the SEE regional power system for three different hydrological years. Results were validated based on the available ENTSO-E data for the average hydrological (2015) year. Moreover, calculations on water withdrawal and consumption for cooling of thermal power plants were added. Addition of water stress index (WSI) calculations can determine locations that could experience water scarcity.
The analysis covered EU Member states in Balkans and Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo , Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.
A branch of Dispa-SET model containing the input data for replicating the study
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
The operation and economics of the power systems are constrained by the availability and temperature of water resources since thermal power plants need water for cooling and hydropower plants need water to generate electricity. In Europe and North America, water shortages or high river water temperatures have recurrently occurred in the last years, leading to financial losses, power curtailments, temporary shutdowns, demand restrictions, and ultimately increased wear and tear of the power plants. On the other hand, the operation of the power system may affect the quantity and quality of the water resources.
This study describes the implementation and testing of a modelling framework to analyse the interactions between water resources and the power system in the Western Balkans and the neighbouring EU Member States (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo , Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia). The methodological approach consists of combining the hydrological LISFLOOD model with the Dispa-SET Medium-Term Hydrothermal Coordination (MTHC) and Unit Commitment and Dispatch (UCD) models for simulation of the regional power system. Three scenarios are used to investigate the changes in the operation of the regional power system under different hydrological conditions (dry, average and wet years).
The outcomes include economic and operational results at unit, country and regional level, plus an analysis of the thermal power plants at water-scarce locations based on their calculated water stress indices.
| From date | To date |
|---|---|
| 2007-01-01 | 2007-12-31 |
