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The Role of Renewable Energy Resources in Sustainability of Water Desalination as a Potential Fresh-Water Source: An Updated Review

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Listed:
  • Esmaeil Ahmadi

    (Energy Economics Laboratory, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan)

  • Benjamin McLellan

    (Energy Economics Laboratory, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan)

  • Behnam Mohammadi-Ivatloo

    (Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5157944533, Iran
    Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam)

  • Tetsuo Tezuka

    (Energy Economics Laboratory, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan)

Abstract

Desalination is becoming a practical option to meet water demand in an increasing number of locations that are facing water scarcity. Currently, more than 150 countries in the world are already using desalination technologies, which account for about one percent of the world’s drinking water. Although for specific regions, desalination is the only feasible solution to close the supply–demand gap (for example the production of desalinated seawater in the Middle East is predicted to rise almost fourteen-fold by 2040), the sustainability of desalination systems is still remarkably under question. This review aims first to investigate the technical and economic trends and environmental and social aspects of desalination systems and then, in the second stage, to give an overview of the role of renewable energy technologies in the sustainability of the future water systems with an increasing share of desalination.

Suggested Citation

  • Esmaeil Ahmadi & Benjamin McLellan & Behnam Mohammadi-Ivatloo & Tetsuo Tezuka, 2020. "The Role of Renewable Energy Resources in Sustainability of Water Desalination as a Potential Fresh-Water Source: An Updated Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-31, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5233-:d:377236
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    Cited by:

    1. Sagar Shelare & Ravinder Kumar & Trupti Gajbhiye & Sumit Kanchan, 2023. "Role of Geothermal Energy in Sustainable Water Desalination—A Review on Current Status, Parameters, and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-22, March.
    2. Muna Hindiyeh & Aiman Albatayneh & Rashed Altarawneh & Mustafa Jaradat & Murad Al-Omary & Qasem Abdelal & Tarek Tayara & Osama Khalil & Adel Juaidi & Ramez Abdallah & Partick Dutournié & Mejdi Jeguiri, 2021. "Sea Level Rise Mitigation by Global Sea Water Desalination Using Renewable-Energy-Powered Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Vishwas Powar & Rajendra Singh, 2021. "Stand-Alone Direct Current Power Network Based on Photovoltaics and Lithium-Ion Batteries for Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-23, May.

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