A Levelized Cost Analysis for Solar-Energy-Powered Sea Water Desalination in The Emirate of Abu Dhabi

Abstract

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi heavily relies on seawater desalination for its freshwater needs due to limited available resources. This trend is expected to increase further because of the growing population and economic activity, the rapid decline in limited freshwater reserves, and the aggravating effects of climate change. Seawater desalination in Abu Dhabi is currently done through thermal desalination technologies, such as multi-stage flash (MSF) and multi-effect distillation (MED), coupled with thermal power plants, which is known as co-generation. These thermal desalination methods are together responsible for more than 90% of the desalination capacity in the Emirate. Our analysis indicates that these thermal desalination methods are inefficient regarding energy consumption and harmful to the environment due to CO2 emissions and other dangerous byproducts. The rapid decline in the cost of solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems for energy production and reverse osmosis (RO) technology for desalination makes a combination of these two an ideal option for a sustainable desalination future in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. A levelized cost of water (LCW) study of a solar PV + RO system indicates that Abu Dhabi is well-positioned to utilize this technological combination for cheap and clean desalination in the coming years. Countries in the Sunbelt region with a limited freshwater capacity similar to Abu Dhabi may also consider the proposed system in this study for sustainable desalination.

Conceptual Design and Numerical Analysis of a Novel Floating Desalination Plant Powered by Marine Renewable Energy for Egypt

“…The components of any solar system consist of PV panels or collectors, a charger controller, batteries (if the energy needs to be stored), and an inverter to convert DC into AC. The PV output power is affected by many different factors, such as solar PV cell efficiency, solar radiation, ambient temperature, and wind speed [44]. Hofierka and Kuanuk [44] have suggested a formula for estimating the total annual electricity output for a system:…”

“…The PV output power is affected by many different factors, such as solar PV cell efficiency, solar radiation, ambient temperature, and wind speed [44]. Hofierka and Kuanuk [44] have suggested a formula for estimating the total annual electricity output for a system:…”

Mathematical Approach to Improve the Thermoeconomics of a Humidification Dehumidification Solar Desalination System

“…Kaya et al [6] carried out a levelized cost analysis for solar-energy-powered seawater desalination in the Emirate of Abu Dubai and considered multi-stage flash and multi-effect distillation coupled with thermal power plants while mentioning that these thermal desalination methods are responsible for more than 90% of the desalination capacity in the Emirate. The findings of the article [6] suggest that the analysis considering the levelized cost of water for a combination of solar PV and a reverse osmosis system is technologically well-positioned in terms of cheap and clean desalination systems. The authors of reference [6] considered total capital cost, annual energy consumption with a required solar energy system to balance a zero in the grid along with the chemical costs and overhead cost yielding a final levelized cost of water.…”

“…In this regard, Manju et al [4] provided an extensive review of the need for a desalination system to overcome future freshwater demand for India. Among many desalination processes [5], some can be energy inefficient, costly, and/or can have environmental impacts (CO 2 emissions and other dangerous byproducts as referenced by [6]) depending on the design parameters [7].…”

Potential Reduction of Carbon Burden for Senak Seawater Desalination Plant in Malaysia

“…Advances in technology have led scientists, academics, engineers, and architects to compete and innovate on every aspect of the desalination management system, ultimately resulting in the balance of the earth's transition to global peace (Masaru and Hiromu, 2018;Abdullah et al 2019). Currently, the best choice for a desalination plant system is to use Reverse Osmosis technology (RO), rather than electrodialysis, micro ltration (MF), ultra ltration (UF) technologies.…”