Save Water, Invest in Wind Energy

WATER CONSUMPTION--CONVENTIONAL POWER PLANTS
Technology gallons/kWh liters/kWh
    Nuclear 0.62 2.30
    Coal 0.49 1.90
    Oil 0.43 1.60
    Combined Cycle 0.25 0.95
Small amounts of water are used to clean wind turbine rotor blades in arid climates (where rainfall does not keep the blades clean). The purpose of blade cleaning is to eliminate dust and insect buildup, which otherwise deforms the shape of the airfoil and degrades performance.
Similarly, small amounts of water are used to clean photovoltaics (solar) panels. Water use numbers for these two technologies are as follows:
WATER CONSUMPTION--WIND AND SOLAR
Technology gallons/kWh liters/kWh
Wind [1] 0.001 0.004
Solar [2] 0.030 0.110
Wind therefore uses less than 1/600 as much water per unit of electricity produced as does nuclear, and approximately 1/500 as much as coal.
NOTES
[1] American Wind Energy Association estimate, based on data obtained in personal communication with Brian Roach, Fluidyne Corp., December 13, 1996. Assumes 250-kW turbine operating at .25 capacity factor, with blades washed four times annually.
[2] Meridian Corp., "Energy System Emissions and Materials Requirements," U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC. 1989, p. 23.