WATER AND ENERGY NEXUS OF THERMAL POWER PLANT (CASE STUDY: TARASHT POWER PLANT)

Growing population and rising demand for energy have necessitated a compromise between power generation and ecosystem sustainability, Logan and Stillwell (۲۰۱۸). Steam power plants have a significant share in the country's electricity generation. These plants in addition to fossil fuels combustion and environmental pollution, with high water consumption in cooling systems and steam cycle have threatened water resources, Talaeian Araghi et al. (۲۰۱۶), Kim and Drioli (۲۰۲۱). Also, power plants waste products cause water pollution due to the production of salt, thermal, toxic and oil-contaminated wastewater, Ravanbakhsh (۲۰۱۱). For example, the supply of water resources for wet cooling towers in ۱۰۰۰ MW Shahid Mofateh power plant in Hamedan reduced the groundwater resources. Also, high exploitation, lack of treatment and re-recycling to the nature, caused land subsidence, loss of landscapes and evacuation of surrounding villages from the population, Hosseini (۲۰۱۹). Therefore, in the power generation industry, there is a need to move towards Nexus solutions to overcome the challenges of sustainable water security. In this study water, energy and environment Nexus in the Tarasht steam power plant is evaluated and the Nexus proposed solutions are presented.