Water use in the industrial sector based on the IPAC model under the carbon-neutral transformation path in China

Abstract

To examine the impact of promoting transformative hydrogen-based technologies on water demand in traditional high-energy and high-water-consuming sectors under the carbon-neutral transition, this study investigates the industrial sector transformation path. It compares the water consumption of current production processes with future hydrogen-based and advanced water-saving technologies. By developing a model, the study analyses the water-saving potential of 54 water-saving and hydrogen-based technologies across three water consumption scenarios and evaluates their impact on industrial water use. This study highlights the pivotal role of water-saving technologies in transforming industrial sectors, particularly in the paper and textile industries, where zero-emission technologies have considerably reduced water demand. Water savings in the paper industry are projected to increase from 24.29 Mt in 2025 to 101.44 Mt in 2050, representing an 8.5% increase. In the chemical fibre sector, additional water savings are expected to reach 106.93 Mt by 2050, with an 11.6% increase in water-saving efficiency. Similarly, the textile dyeing and finishing sector is anticipated to achieve an additional water saving of 26.45 Mt by 2050, corresponding to a 17.5% improvement. The findings indicate that the adoption of hydrogen-based technologies will considerably reduce water consumption in traditionally high-water-consuming industries such as steel, synthetic ammonia, ethylene, and methanol. This reduction becomes particularly evident by 2050 under the baseline pathway and low water consumption scenarios, in which the impact of water-saving technologies becomes less prominent. By 2050, water consumption in the steel, ethylene, synthetic ammonia, and methanol industries is projected to decrease to 985.93, 59.11, 242.4, and 268.29 Mt, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of hydrogen-based technologies in advancing water conservation. By 2050, the chemical industry is projected to reduce water stress by transitioning from traditional water-saving technologies to the integration of automation and hydrogen-based solutions.