Answer

What about water use?

Thermal plants need cooling, but consumption and withdrawal are not the same.

The impact depends on the cooling system, location and water source. Cooling towers consume part of the water withdrawn; once-through systems return most of it, although at a higher temperature.

In a country vulnerable to drought, location and alternative cooling methods must be part of the assessment from the start. It is a real constraint to manage, not a detail.

Source for further reading

IEA — Water for energy

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