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Renewable energy powered membrane technology: A leapfrog approach to rural water treatment in developing countries?

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  • Schäfer, Andrea I.
  • Hughes, Gordon
  • Richards, Bryce S.

Abstract

Lack of access to safe drinking water remains a present concern in many developing countries, particularly in rural locations. Membrane water treatment technologies have the potential to remove microbiological and chemical contaminants reliably and simultaneously from a wide range of water sources. When powered by renewable energy, these systems are autonomous and have the ability to ‘leapfrog’ over installation of traditional infrastructure for electricity and water supply to reach remote communities. In this paper, current estimated costs for water, membrane plants and infrastructure are compared to indicate the window of opportunity for these exciting renewable energy powered membrane (RE-membrane) technologies. General estimated costs for decentralized membrane systems are within the range of some untreated water costs in developing countries. Specific system costs, however, are very process and location dependent. The appropriateness of a successful approach thus depends partially on careful examination of these parameters. In view of the comparisons made here, the biggest hurdle to adoption of the RE-membrane technology in a remote location may not be cost, but rather sustainability issues such as the lack of skilled personnel for operation and maintenance, service networks, availability of spare parts, socio-economic integration and adaptive capacity of communities to transfer and develop technology appropriate to local needs and circumstances.

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  • Schäfer, Andrea I. & Hughes, Gordon & Richards, Bryce S., 2014. "Renewable energy powered membrane technology: A leapfrog approach to rural water treatment in developing countries?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 542-556.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:40:y:2014:i:c:p:542-556
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.07.164
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    1. 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.
    2. Chelsea Schelly & Don Lee & Elise Matz & Joshua M. Pearce, 2021. "Applying a Relationally and Socially Embedded Decision Framework to Solar Photovoltaic Adoption: A Conceptual Exploration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Gonzalez, Alonso & Grágeda, Mario & Ushak, Svetlana, 2017. "Assessment of pilot-scale water purification module with electrodialysis technology and solar energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1643-1652.
    4. Meishu Wang & Hui Gong, 2019. "Expected Rural Wastewater Treatment Promoted by Provincial Local Discharge Limit Legislation in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, May.
    5. Li, Sheying & Voigt, Achim & Schäfer, Andrea I. & Richards, Bryce S., 2020. "Renewable energy powered membrane technology: Energy buffering control system for improved resilience to periodic fluctuations of solar irradiance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 877-889.
    6. Curran, Franziska & Smart, Simon & Lacey, Justine & Greig, Chris & Lant, Paul, 2018. "Learning from experience in the water sector to improve access to energy services," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 41-50.
    7. Guta, Dawit & Jara, Jose & Adhikari, Narayan & Qiu, Chen & Gaur, Varun & Mirzabaev, Alisher, 2015. "Decentralized energy in Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus in Developing Countries: Case Studies on Successes and Failures," Discussion Papers 207713, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).

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