Most thermoelectric plants require water for cooling, many are therefore situated near rivers and coasts and thus vulnerable to flooding. Increases in water temperature or restrictions on cooling water availability affect hydroelectric and thermoelectric plants. A 1°C increase in the temperature of water used as coolant yields a decrease of 0.12-0.7% in power output . Excess biological growth, accelerated by warmer water, increases risk of clogging water intakes . While some regions are expected to experience increased capacity under climate change , global annual thermal power plant capacity is likely to be reduced by between 7% in a mid-century RCP2.6 scenario and 12% in a mid-century RCP8.5 scenario . Worldwide, hydroelectric capacity reductions are projected at 0.4-6.1% . Analysis of the UK's water for energy generation abstractions showed that an energy mix of high nuclear or carbon capture technologies could require as much as six times the current cooling water demands .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report