IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v256y2026ipis0960148125022670.html

Multi-objective optimization of a modified integrated solar combined cycle for cogeneration of electricity and desalinated water

Author

Listed:
  • Shaaban, S.

Abstract

Water scarcity and inefficient part-load operation of solar-integrated power plants are critical issues facing sun-rich regions such as Egypt. This research proposes an optimized modified Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) coupled with a Multi-Stage Flash Desalination Unit (MSFDU) for cogeneration of electricity and desalinated water. The system's novel architecture features a two-stage brine heating process. The MSFDU includes a brine heater and a brine after-heater. The brine heater recovers the heat released from the ISCC condenser. A fraction (SF) of the collected solar energy is directed to the ISCC, and the remaining fraction (1-SF) is supplied to the brine after-heater. A key feature of the proposed cycle is its flexible operation. The MSFDU can operate either fully integrated with the ISCC (bundled mode) or completely detached from the ISCC (standalone mode). The performance of the proposed ISCC-MSFDU cycle was analyzed and optimized using a multiobjective genetic algorithm. Results under typical Egyptian operating conditions demonstrate that optimizing the solar energy split enhances the cycle overall and cogeneration efficiencies. The optimized cycle produces up to 43000 m3/day and 15500 m3/day of desalinated water in bundled and standalone modes, respectively. It achieves a significant fuel saving of 55 %–95 % for seawater desalination.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaaban, S., 2026. "Multi-objective optimization of a modified integrated solar combined cycle for cogeneration of electricity and desalinated water," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PI).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pi:s0960148125022670
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124603
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125022670
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.124603?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sharaf Eldean, Mohamed A. & Soliman, A.M., 2017. "A novel study of using oil refinery plants waste gases for thermal desalination and electric power generation: Energy, exergy & cost evaluations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 453-477.
    2. Elmorsy, Louay & Morosuk, Tatiana & Tsatsaronis, George, 2022. "Comparative exergoeconomic evaluation of integrated solar combined-cycle (ISCC) configurations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 680-691.
    3. Stephen Bauer & Steve Glover & Kenneth Williamson & Jiann-Cherng Su & Scott Broome & W. Payton Gardner & Joe Rudys & Gary Pena & Forrest White & Michael Horry, 2024. "Electrofracturing of Shale at Elevated Pressure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-24, June.
    4. Shaaban, S., 2021. "Enhancement of the solar trough collector efficiency by optimizing the reflecting mirror profile," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 40-49.
    5. Toker, Serpil Celik, 2025. "A comprehensive thermodynamic assessment of an innovative solar-geothermal driven multigeneration system for sustainable production of energy, hydrogen, freshwater, heating and cooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    6. Binamer, Anwar O., 2019. "Al-Abdaliya integrated solar combined cycle power plant: Case study of Kuwait, part I," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 923-937.
    7. ., 2024. "Electronic authentication of products," Chapters, in: Certification and Collective Marks, chapter 8, pages 290-314, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    8. Shaaban, S., 2024. "Performance optimization of an integrated solar combined cycle for the cogeneration of electricity and fresh water," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    9. Xuemei Fu & Guanxiang Wan & Hongchen Guo & Han-Joon Kim & Zijie Yang & Yu Jun Tan & John S. Ho & Benjamin C. K. Tee, 2024. "Self-healing actuatable electroluminescent fibres," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Palomo-Torrejón, Elisabet & Mur-Pérez, Francisco & Rosales-Asensio, Enrique, 2020. "Thermal desalination potential with parabolic trough collectors and geothermal energy in the Spanish southeast," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    11. Singh, Manmeet & Sharma, Manoj Kumar & Bhattacharya, Jishnu, 2021. "Design methodology of a parabolic trough collector field for maximum annual energy yield," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 229-241.
    12. Yilmaz, Fatih & Jamil, Basharat, 2025. "Parametric and a case study of an innovative solar-driven combined system: Thermodynamic and environmental impact analysis for sustainable production of power, heating, and freshwater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    13. ., 2024. "Lessons from the consumer electronics industry," Chapters, in: Concise Introduction to Global Supply Chain Management, chapter 5, pages 65-91, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    14. Wang, Gang & Dong, Boyi & Chen, Zeshao, 2021. "Design and behaviour estimate of a novel concentrated solar-driven power and desalination system using S–CO2 Brayton cycle and MSF technology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 555-564.
    15. Zhang, Zuxian & Duan, Liqiang & Wang, Zhen & Ren, Yujie, 2022. "General performance evaluation method of integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    16. Shaaban, S., 2023. "Part load operation of an integrated solar combined cycle using the brine heater of a MSF desalination unit as a steam condenser," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 212-226.
    17. Bello, S. & Reiner, 2024. "Experience Curves for Electrolysis Technologies," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2476, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    18. Khademi, Mohammad Mahyar & Koohshoori, Mozhdeh Shavali & Kasaeian, Alibakhsh, 2025. "Development of a renewable energy system utilizing solar dish collector, multi effect desalination and supercritical CO2 brayton cycle to produce fresh water and electricity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shaaban, S., 2024. "Performance optimization of an integrated solar combined cycle for the cogeneration of electricity and fresh water," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    2. Shaaban, S., 2023. "Part load operation of an integrated solar combined cycle using the brine heater of a MSF desalination unit as a steam condenser," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 212-226.
    3. Sanda, Masoyi Garba & Emam, Mohamed & Hassan, Hamdy, 2026. "Combined vertical axis wind turbine and solar photovoltaic energy generation on dual land use with shading impact: Technical-economic-environmental assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PA).
    4. Zhou, Yu & Li, Xueyu & Geng, Tai & Shao, Longtao & Xu, Zheng & Zhong, Zhiming & Zhu, Kun & Song, Yue & Ding, Shuiting, 2025. "Piston engine energy utilization for variable-altitude applications: A review of two-stage turbocharging technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    5. Reza-Gharehbagh, Raziyeh & Pullman, Madeleine, 2026. "Sustainable product development under profit-sharing crowdfunding: an analytical approach to market structure and government policy," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 328(2), pages 704-724.
    6. Tian, Cong & Su, Chang & Yang, Chao & Wei, Xiwen & Pang, Peng & Xu, Jianguo, 2023. "Exergetic and economic evaluation of a novel integrated system for cogeneration of power and freshwater using waste heat recovery of natural gas combined cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    7. Zuxian Zhang & Liqiang Duan & Zhen Wang & Yujie Ren, 2023. "Integration Optimization of Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) System Based on System/Solar Photoelectric Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-22, April.
    8. Huang, Baoda & Zhao, Chunhao & Peng, Qizhen & Zhang, Heng & Cheng, Chao & Huang, Jiguang & Chen, Haiping & Gao, Dan, 2025. "Optimization design and peaking characteristics analysis of integrated solar combined cycle system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    9. Zuxian Zhang & Liqiang Duan & Zhen Wang & Yujie Ren, 2023. "Design and Performance Analysis of a Novel Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) with a Supercritical CO 2 Bottom Cycle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-27, June.
    10. Mendler-Krakau, Leoni & Frenkel, Michael, 2026. "How green is China’s development finance? Power generation and air pollution in Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    11. Hinkelman, Kathryn & Anbarasu, Saranya & Wetter, Michael & Gautier, Antoine & Zuo, Wangda, 2022. "A fast and accurate modeling approach for water and steam thermodynamics with practical applications in district heating system simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    12. Cai, Benan & Long, Chengjun & Du, Qiaochen & Zhang, Wenchao & Hou, Yandong & Wang, Haijun & Cai, Weihua, 2023. "Analysis of a spray flash desalination system driven by low-grade waste heat with different intermittencies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    13. Arshad, Muhammad & Bano, Ijaz & Khan, Nasrullah & Shahzad, Mirza Imran & Younus, Muhammad & Abbas, Mazhar & Iqbal, Munawar, 2018. "Electricity generation from biogas of poultry waste: An assessment of potential and feasibility in Pakistan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 1241-1246.
    14. Zupeng Liu & Zhao Liu & Xia Lei & Yujue Yang & Titao Jing, 2025. "Ultra low-field-emission stretchable electroluminescent devices enabled by a transparent and high-κ dielectric gel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    15. Cammarota, Antonella & D’Arco, Mario & Marino, Vittoria & Resciniti, Riccardo, 2026. "The brand activism path: Mapping the activism intensity and consumer responses," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    16. Wang, Gang & Zhang, Zhen & Lin, Jianqing, 2024. "Multi-energy complementary power systems based on solar energy: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    17. Liu, Zhan & Liu, Zihui & Guo, Junfei & Wang, Fan & Yang, Xiaohu & Yan, Jinyue, 2022. "Innovative ladder-shaped fin design on a latent heat storage device for waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    18. Zhang, Wanshi & Li, Xiuwei & Cheng, Feng, 2025. "Capacitive deionization desalination by electricity localization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    19. Palomo-Torrejón, Elisabet & Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Rosales-Asensio, Enrique & Mur-Pérez, Francisco, 2021. "Economic and environmental benefits of geothermal energy in industrial processes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 134-146.
    20. Wajahat Ullah Khan Tareen & Zuha Anjum & Nabila Yasin & Leenah Siddiqui & Ifzana Farhat & Suheel Abdullah Malik & Saad Mekhilef & Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian & Ben Horan & Mohamed Darwish & Muhammad Aamir &, 2018. "The Prospective Non-Conventional Alternate and Renewable Energy Sources in Pakistan—A Focus on Biomass Energy for Power Generation, Transportation, and Industrial Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-49, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pi:s0960148125022670. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.