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On the feasibility of community-scale photovoltaic-powered reverse osmosis desalination systems for remote locations

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  • Bilton, Amy M.
  • Wiesman, Richard
  • Arif, A.F.M.
  • Zubair, Syed M.
  • Dubowsky, Steven

Abstract

This paper presents a generalized methodology to evaluate the feasibility of photovoltaic-powered reverse osmosis (PVRO) systems for small, remote communities in challenging environments. The economic feasibility is determined by comparing the cost of water from a photovoltaic reverse osmosis system with the cost of water obtained using conventional diesel-powered reverse osmosis. For PVRO systems, the feasibility is a function of location due to variation in solar resource, water type, system demand and local governmental policies. A series of sample cases were analyzed to demonstrate the method. Analysis for community-scale seawater reverse osmosis systems was carried out for various locations using Geographic Information System (GIS) data. A site-specific analysis has been completed for seawater and brackish water reverse osmosis systems. It was found that photovoltaic-powered reverse osmosis is feasible for the majority of remote locations with a large solar resource.

Suggested Citation

  • Bilton, Amy M. & Wiesman, Richard & Arif, A.F.M. & Zubair, Syed M. & Dubowsky, Steven, 2011. "On the feasibility of community-scale photovoltaic-powered reverse osmosis desalination systems for remote locations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 3246-3256.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:36:y:2011:i:12:p:3246-3256
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2011.03.040
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    1. Al Suleimani, Zaher & Nair, V. Rajendran, 2000. "Desalination by solar-powered reverse osmosis in a remote area of the Sultanate of Oman," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(1-4), pages 367-380, April.
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    1. Schallenberg-Rodríguez, Julieta & Del Rio-Gamero, Beatriz & Melian-Martel, Noemi & Lis Alecio, Tyrone & González Herrera, Javier, 2020. "Energy supply of a large size desalination plant using wave energy. Practical case: North of Gran Canaria," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    2. Shalaby, S.M., 2017. "Reverse osmosis desalination powered by photovoltaic and solar Rankine cycle power systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 789-797.
    3. Xu, Haiyang & Ji, Xu & Wang, Liuling & Huang, Jingxin & Han, Jingyang & Wang, Yue, 2020. "Performance study on a small-scale photovoltaic electrodialysis system for desalination," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1008-1013.
    4. Buonomenna, M.G. & Bae, J., 2015. "Membrane processes and renewable energies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1343-1398.
    5. Sadegh Modarresi, M. & Abada, Bilal & Sivaranjani, S. & Xie, Le & Chellam, Shankararaman, 2020. "Planning of survivable nano-grids through jointly optimized water and electricity: The case of Colonias at the Texas-Mexico border," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    6. Omar, Amr & Nashed, Amir & Li, Qiyuan & Leslie, Greg & Taylor, Robert A., 2020. "Pathways for integrated concentrated solar power - Desalination: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    7. Mito, Mohamed T. & Ma, Xianghong & Albuflasa, Hanan & Davies, Philip A., 2019. "Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane desalination driven by wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy: State of the art and challenges for large-scale implementation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 669-685.
    8. Elsakka, Mohamed Mohamed & Refaat, Ahmed & Alzahrani, Khalid M. & Hee, Jee Loong & Ma, Lin & Elhenawy, Yasser & Majozi, Thokozani & Yosry, Ahmed Gharib & Amer, Ahmed & Moustafa, Gamal Hafez & Ahmed, A, 2024. "Techno-economic assessment of a novel wind-powered RO system with a compressed air energy storage for water desalination," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    9. Muhieitheen, Mahmood Khaja & Alquaity, Awad B.S. & Al-Solihat, Mohammed Khair, 2025. "Techno-economic assessment of stand–alone renewable energy powered desalination and hydrogen production in NEOM, Saudi Arabia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    10. Kaoud, Omar G. & Elbassoussi, Muhammad H. & Zubair, Syed M., 2025. "Optimizing hybrid renewable energy systems for urban sustainability: A case study of five Saudi Arabian cities," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    11. He, Wei & Wang, Yang & Shaheed, Mohammad Hasan, 2015. "Stand-alone seawater RO (reverse osmosis) desalination powered by PV (photovoltaic) and PRO (pressure retarded osmosis)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 423-435.
    12. Molinos-Senante, María & González, Diego, 2019. "Evaluation of the economics of desalination by integrating greenhouse gas emission costs: An empirical application for Chile," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 1327-1337.
    13. Vivar, M. & H, Sharon & Fuentes, M., 2024. "Photovoltaic system adoption in water related technologies – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    14. Janghorban Esfahani, I. & Yoo, C.K., 2013. "Exergy analysis and parametric optimization of three power and fresh water cogeneration systems using refrigeration chillers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 340-355.
    15. Ali, Haider & Siddiqui, Muhammad Usama & Ammar, & Aswani, Muhammad Ahsan & Umer, Muhammad & Khan, Muhammad Ismail, 2024. "Techno-economic analysis of various configurations of stand-alone PV-RO systems for Pakistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    16. Li, Sheying & Cai, Yang-Hui & Schäfer, Andrea I. & Richards, Bryce S., 2019. "Renewable energy powered membrane technology: A review of the reliability of photovoltaic-powered membrane system components for brackish water desalination," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    17. Nicola Dainelli & Giampaolo Manfrida & Karolina Petela & Federico Rossi, 2017. "Exergo-Economic Evaluation of the Cost for Solar Thermal Depuration of Water," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-19, September.
    18. Khan, Meer A.M. & Rehman, S. & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A., 2018. "A hybrid renewable energy system as a potential energy source for water desalination using reverse osmosis: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 456-477.
    19. Li, Qiyuan & Zhang, Huili & Tan, Cheng & Lian, Boyue & García-Pacheco, Raquel & Taylor, Robert A. & Fletcher, John & Le-Clech, Pierre & Ranasinghe, Buddhi & Senevirathna, Tharanga & Leslie, Gregory, 2022. "Numerical and experimental investigation of a DC-powered RO system for Sri-Lankan villages," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 772-786.
    20. Kasaeian, Alibakhsh & Rajaee, Fatemeh & Yan, Wei-Mon, 2019. "Osmotic desalination by solar energy: A critical review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 1473-1490.

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