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A Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis of Different Desalination Technologies in Off-Grid Islands

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Castro

    (Laboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman 1101, Philippines)

  • Myron Alcanzare

    (Laboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman 1101, Philippines)

  • Eugene Esparcia

    (Laboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman 1101, Philippines)

  • Joey Ocon

    (Laboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman 1101, Philippines)

Abstract

Freshwater in off-grid islands is sourced from rain, groundwater, or mainland imports, which are unreliable, limited, and expensive, respectively. Sustainable freshwater generation from desalination of abundant seawater is another alternative worth exploring. Model-based techno-economic simulations have focused on reverse osmosis desalination due to its low energy consumption and decreasing costs. However, reverse osmosis requires frequent and costly membrane replacement. Other desalination technologies have advantages such as less stringent feedwater requirements, but detailed studies are yet to be done. In this work, a techno-economic comparison of multi-effect distillation, multi-stage flash, mechanical vapor compression, and reverse osmosis coupled with solar photovoltaic-lithium ion-diesel hybrid system was performed by comparing power flows to study the interaction between energy and desalination components. Optimization with projected costs were then performed to investigate future trends. Lastly, we used stochastic generation and demand profiles to infer uncertainties in energy and desalination unit sizing. Reverse osmosis is favorable due to low energy and water costs, as well as possible compatibility with renewable energy systems. Multi-effect distillation and multi-stage flash may also be advantageous for low-risk applications due to system robustness.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Castro & Myron Alcanzare & Eugene Esparcia & Joey Ocon, 2020. "A Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis of Different Desalination Technologies in Off-Grid Islands," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:9:p:2261-:d:353831
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pascasio, Jethro Daniel A. & Esparcia, Eugene A. & Castro, Michael T. & Ocon, Joey D., 2021. "Comparative assessment of solar photovoltaic-wind hybrid energy systems: A case for Philippine off-grid islands," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1589-1607.
    2. Castro, Michael T. & Pascasio, Jethro Daniel A. & Delina, Laurence L. & Balite, Paul Heherson M. & Ocon, Joey D., 2022. "Techno-economic and financial analyses of hybrid renewable energy system microgrids in 634 Philippine off-grid islands: Policy implications on public subsidies and private investments," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    3. Zhao, Pan & Gou, Feifei & Xu, Wenpan & Wang, Jiangfeng & Dai, Yiping, 2022. "Multi-objective optimization of a renewable power supply system with underwater compressed air energy storage for seawater reverse osmosis under two different operation schemes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 71-90.
    4. Nicolás Velázquez-Limón & Ricardo López-Zavala & Luis Hernández-Callejo & Jesús A. Aguilar-Jiménez & Sara Ojeda-Benítez & Juan Ríos-Arriola, 2020. "Study of a Hybrid Solar Absorption-Cooling and Flash-Desalination System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Yee Van Fan & Zorka Novak Pintarič & Jiří Jaromír Klemeš, 2020. "Emerging Tools for Energy System Design Increasing Economic and Environmental Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-25, August.
    6. Gulagi, Ashish & Alcanzare, Myron & Bogdanov, Dmitrii & Esparcia, Eugene & Ocon, Joey & Breyer, Christian, 2021. "Transition pathway towards 100% renewable energy across the sectors of power, heat, transport, and desalination for the Philippines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    7. María Magdalena Armendáriz-Ontiveros & Germán Eduardo Dévora-Isiordia & Jorge Rodríguez-López & Reyna Guadalupe Sánchez-Duarte & Jesús Álvarez-Sánchez & Yedidia Villegas-Peralta & María del Rosario Ma, 2022. "Effect of Temperature on Energy Consumption and Polarization in Reverse Osmosis Desalination Using a Spray-Cooled Photovoltaic System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-15, October.
    8. Mingwei Yan & Yuetao Shi, 2020. "Thermal and Economic Analysis of Multi-Effect Concentration System by Utilizing Waste Heat of Flue Gas for Magnesium Desulfurization Wastewater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
    9. Ekaterina Sokolova & Khashayar Sadeghi & Seyed Hadi Ghazaie & Dario Barsi & Francesca Satta & Pietro Zunino, 2022. "Feasibility of Hybrid Desalination Plants Coupled with Small Gas Turbine CHP Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-13, May.
    10. Zein, Adnan & Karaki, Sami & Al-Hindi, Mahmoud, 2023. "Analysis of variable reverse osmosis operation powered by solar energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 385-398.
    11. Xaviery N. Penisa & Michael T. Castro & Jethro Daniel A. Pascasio & Eugene A. Esparcia & Oliver Schmidt & Joey D. Ocon, 2020. "Projecting the Price of Lithium-Ion NMC Battery Packs Using a Multifactor Learning Curve Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-18, October.
    12. Hussein M. Maghrabie & Abdul Ghani Olabi & Ahmed Rezk & Ali Radwan & Abdul Hai Alami & Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, 2023. "Energy Storage for Water Desalination Systems Based on Renewable Energy Resources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-34, March.
    13. Zhao, Pan & Xu, Wenpan & Liu, Aijie & Wu, Wenze & Wang, Jiangfeng & Yan, Zhequan, 2022. "Performance evaluation of a renewable driven standalone combined power and water supply system with cascade electricity and heat storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 1283-1299.

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