Electricity production has traditionally required extensive water use, so growing economies such as China are expected to increase their freshwater withdrawal and consumption to meet growing electricity demand. Research shows, however, that through restructuring the electricity sector and increasing efficiency, China may have broken this coupling.
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Davies, E.G.R. Breaking the spell. Nat Energy 3, 716–717 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0242-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0242-9