How is water used in the energy sector?

Water is an important resource for energy production in California. Through hydropower, California uses water to generate electricity. Hydropower is a renewable energy resource that utilizes the energy from rapidly flowing water to turn turbines and generate electricity. California is the nation’s top hydropower producer, providing nearly 10 percent of the state’s electricity in 2019. In addition to hydropower, water is also used to cool underground and seawater sources used to power electricity plants. These cooling systems rely on vast amounts of water to function, which California obtains through government-regulated water rights. As the water is recirculated, it is routed away from the power plants and fed back into the rivers and oceans. Water is also used to extract fuels such as oil and gas. This process is called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, and involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals into deep underground rock formations to force open fractures and extract the fuel. Finally, water is also used to clean the equipment used to generate electricity, such as turbines and boilers. This cleaning process requires large amounts of water to ensure the equipment is running safely and efficiently. Overall, water is an essential resource for the energy sector in California, providing renewable energy, cooling energy plants, extracting fuels, and cleaning equipment. Water law ensures the proper management of water resources and ensures that these vital processes can continue.

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How is water used in the energy sector?

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