Water is consumed in the generation of electricity and then transmitted, virtually, across the electric grid, creating a network of water transfers. Virtual water transfers of electricity are an understudied area of the energy–water nexus, with important policy and conservation considerations. Here we analyse the virtual water flows of the US electric grid and the changes in network structure from 2010 to 2016 using electricity transfers between power control areas and power-plant-level water for electricity. Transfers of blue water were 9.21 km³ in 2010 and 11.21 km³ in 2016. Transfers of grey water were 50.18 km³ in 2010 compared to 71.64 km³ in 2016. The change in blue water transfers are despite national trends of lower freshwater demands of thermoelectric power generation. We provide a mapping of virtual water transfers through the US electric grid over time, including blue and grey water, and network analysis of the system.

水在发电过程中被消耗，然后实际上通过电网传输，从而形成了水的输送网络。虚拟的水电传输是能源与水之间关系的一个未被充分研究的领域，具有重要的政策和保护方面的考虑。在这里，我们使用电力控制区域和电厂级水之间的电力输送来分析美国电网的虚拟水流量以及2010年至2016年网络结构的变化。2010年，蓝色水的转移量为9.21 km ³，2016年为11.21 km ^3。 2010年，灰色水的转移量为50.18 km ³，而71.64 km ³在2016年。尽管全国趋势是热电发电的淡水需求降低，但蓝色调水的变化仍然存在。我们提供了一段时间内通过美国电网进行的虚拟水输送的映射，包括蓝色和灰色水，以及系统的网络分析。