Coal-based cities are facing the challenge of low-carbon development while coal-fired power generation consumes large amounts of water, land, and energy. We use life cycle assessment and nexus theory to establish a model of coal life-cycle with water-land-energy nexus. Based on the model, we quantify the actual total energy, water, and land consumptions associated with the activities throughout the life cycle of coal-fired power generation of Huainan City in 2020. In terms of the life cycle stages, the power generation stage accounted for the highest consumptions of water, land, and energy, followed by the mining stage,while the processing stage had the lowest consumptions. The power generation stage consumed 60.9% of total water, 84.5% of total land, and 95.3% of total energy, respectively. In terms of the total consumption, the water, land and energy consumptions of the entire life cycle of coal-fired power generation were 9.38×10⁸ m³, 4.79×10⁵ hm², and 2.15×10⁷ tce, respectively. Direct consumptions accounted for 91.2% and 98.9% of water and energy, respectively, while indirect consumption accounted for 88.2% of land. Thus, the power generation stage and the direct consumption were the primary linkages in the entire life cycle of coalfired power generation. It is necessary to implement scientific and effective measures to especially reduce the direct water, land, and energy consumptions in the power generation stage. We intend to provide not only a new accounting method of resource consumption but also a reference of sustainable development for coal-based cities in China.

coal-based city  /  life cycle  /  water-land-energy nexus  /  resource consumption  /  Huainan City