In this study, to consider both water and electricity uses, we added water footprints related to the power system (cooling systems, gasification and flue gas desulfurization processes), to the global TIAM-FR prospective energy system model. With this modification, the TAM-FR model can be used to ascertain whether future energy mixes might be plausible in terms of water availability. A number of scenarios were evaluated involving diverse policies concerning water or carbon emissions. We observed that the choice of cooling system and the use of carbon capture when considering policies on climate may significantly increase overall freshwater consumption. In regions where water is already scarce or is likely to become so, an increase in freshwater consumption levels or withdrawals may not be sustainable for the energy system. However, by incorporating water directly into the TIAM-FR model we can consider this resource as a constraint and evaluate the impact of water scarcity on electricity production in regions such as the Middle East. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.