Generating Thermal Energy Requires Water, Lots of It

Water is an important part of the thermal energy process – one that we may not think as much about.

1 minute read

September 5, 2018, 12:00 PM PDT

By Camille Fink


Harbor Beach Power Plant

haveseen / Shutterstock

Akshat Rathi examines the role of water in thermal electricity generation, where it is used to condense cooled steam after the stream turns turbines. "In the US and Europe, more than half of the water drawn from nature is used for power generation. This year’s heatwave has forced some of those power plants to shut down," reports Rathi.

The amount of water used varies widely among types of thermal power plants. For example, the cooling towers of a nuclear power plant use over 1,100 gallons of water to produce a mega-watt hour of electricity while a geothermal power plant uses only 15 gallons. Rathi notes that this water goes back into the environment, but there is still a risk of the water temperature affecting plants and wildlife.

Hydropower, wind, and solar—non-thermal ways to generate energy—do not use water for cooling. However, hydropower uses large amounts of water for energy production. As a result, says Rathi, wind and solar power are the best bets for cutting both fuel and water use.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018 in Quartz

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

6 hours ago - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

7 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

July 14 - Los Angeles Public Press