Land and water resource effects of power structure transformation in China: Telecoupling and spatial redistribution

China, the world's largest electricity producer and consumer, faces critical water and land constraints in its low-carbon power transition. Coal-fired power requires massive cooling water, while renewable energy demands extensive land, yet their spatially heterogeneous trade-offs remain unclear. This study employs a high-resolution multi-regional input-output model with water and land satellite accounts to quantify the spatial redistribution of resource footprints. Results indicate that in 2017, China's electricity consumption resulted in a land footprint of 138,000 km², primarily concentrated in Shandong and Guangdong, and a water footprint of 64,449 Mm³, peaking in Jiangsu and Xinjiang. Interprovincial electricity trade further decouples ecological responsibilities, with Guangdong and Beijing transferring over 60 % of their footprints to resource-rich regions. Sector-wise, power generation and supply sectors dominate national footprints, accounting for 64 % of the land footprint and 55 % of the water footprint, while tertiary industries in service-oriented provinces suppress resource demand, representing 27 % and 29 % for land and water footprints respectively. Scenario analysis highlights key trade-offs between decarbonization pathways. The Carbon Peak scenario (CAP) lowers land use through coal efficiency gains but increases water use by 12,939 Mm³. Conversely, the Carbon Neutrality scenario (CAN) reduces water use by 43,172 Mm³ via renewable energy expansion, but increases land pressure by 620,812 km², shifting impacts to Tibet and Qinghai. This study proposes a synergistic strategy to align decarbonization efforts with western China's water and land conservation objectives. These strategies include scientifically guided ecological zoning for renewable energy projects and cross-regional compensation arrangements.