Analysis of water conservation and carbon reduction in high-water-consuming industry: A case study of Jiangsu Province

Abstract

[Objective] Industry is one of the sectors with the highest concentration of water and energy use and is also one of the most carbon-intensive. The rapid development of the industrial economy has intensified the exploitation of water and energy resources, leading to a sharp increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. To explore the water-saving and carbon-reduction potential of high-water-consuming industry in Jiangsu Province and to promote the rational development and utilization of water resources and energy, as well as the healthy, green development of industry, [Methods] adopting a comprehensive “water intake—water production—water distribution—water use—water discharge” perspective in Jiangsu Province, the social water system is simplified into five subsystems: water intake, water production, water distribution, water use, and water discharge. Energy consumption analysis for each subsystem under different water resource behaviors is conducted, establishing a relationship between water saving, energy consumption, and carbon reduction. Using the SFA model, the water-saving potential of high-water-consuming industry in Jiangsu Province is calculated, and scenarios with baseline, moderate, and high levels are analyzed to assess water-saving and carbon-reduction potential. [Results] The result show that in three scenarios, water conservation reduced energy consumption by 4.46×10⁸ kWh, 4.50×10⁸ kWh, and 4.54×10⁸ kWh, respectively, and decreased carbon emissions by 347,000 tons, 349,700 tons, and 352,500 tons. [Conclusion] The findings indicate that water conservation in high-water-consuming industry will play an increasingly important role in supporting energy savings and reducing carbon emissions. The social water system reveals the relationship between industrial water conservation and energy savings at various stages but does not establish a direct link to carbon reduction. The SFA model can comprehensively consider factors such as population, economy, and water usage to calculate the potential for water conservation in high-water-consuming industry, offering significant application value. The analysis of water conservation and carbon reduction in high-water-consuming industry in Jiangsu Province demonstrates the substantial impact of water conservation on carbon reduction and provides a reference for industrial water management and energy distribution in Jiangsu Province.

Keywords

high-water-consuming industry / water-saving potential / water saving and carbon reduction / Jiangsu Province / water resources / SFA model / climate change / carbon emission