Renewable energy-driven desalination for sustainable water production in the Middle East
Despite significant advancement in conventional desalination technologies, their widespread application is still constrained by high energy demands, high capital costs, and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the potential and challenges of...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Sustainable Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19397038.2024.2394552 |
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| author | Mohammad Alshawaf Nawaf S. Alhajeri |
| author_facet | Mohammad Alshawaf Nawaf S. Alhajeri |
| author_sort | Mohammad Alshawaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite significant advancement in conventional desalination technologies, their widespread application is still constrained by high energy demands, high capital costs, and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the potential and challenges of renewable energy desalination in the Middle East. The study also compared the production of energy and water, and emissions reductions of hypothetical 100 MW renewable energy plants in Kuwait, coupled with reverse osmosis (RO) desalination units. The wind-RO plant is estimated to produce 68 million cubic metres on an annual basis, while the CSP-RO and PV-RO plants produced 44 and 37 million cubic metres of fresh water, respectively. These estimates, however, only account for 5% to 9% of the annual fresh water demand in the reference case. Meeting 100% of the fresh water demand would require a 1000 MW to 2000 MW renewable energy capacity. Overall, the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources is a fundamental barrier to the large-scale transition to renewable energies for desalination. The results of this study indicate that the CSP’s relatively small footprint (compared to wind plants) and higher capacity factor make it an ideal compromise among the proposed plants. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed841ae4249b4176a5e28ef7b180145b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1939-7038 1939-7046 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Sustainable Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed841ae4249b4176a5e28ef7b180145b2025-08-20T02:50:20ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Sustainable Engineering1939-70381939-70462024-12-0117166867810.1080/19397038.2024.2394552Renewable energy-driven desalination for sustainable water production in the Middle EastMohammad Alshawaf0Nawaf S. Alhajeri1Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, Safat, KuwaitDepartment of Environmental Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, Safat, KuwaitDespite significant advancement in conventional desalination technologies, their widespread application is still constrained by high energy demands, high capital costs, and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the potential and challenges of renewable energy desalination in the Middle East. The study also compared the production of energy and water, and emissions reductions of hypothetical 100 MW renewable energy plants in Kuwait, coupled with reverse osmosis (RO) desalination units. The wind-RO plant is estimated to produce 68 million cubic metres on an annual basis, while the CSP-RO and PV-RO plants produced 44 and 37 million cubic metres of fresh water, respectively. These estimates, however, only account for 5% to 9% of the annual fresh water demand in the reference case. Meeting 100% of the fresh water demand would require a 1000 MW to 2000 MW renewable energy capacity. Overall, the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources is a fundamental barrier to the large-scale transition to renewable energies for desalination. The results of this study indicate that the CSP’s relatively small footprint (compared to wind plants) and higher capacity factor make it an ideal compromise among the proposed plants.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19397038.2024.2394552Desalinationrenewable energymiddle eastenergy transition |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Alshawaf Nawaf S. Alhajeri Renewable energy-driven desalination for sustainable water production in the Middle East International Journal of Sustainable Engineering Desalination renewable energy middle east energy transition |
| title | Renewable energy-driven desalination for sustainable water production in the Middle East |
| title_full | Renewable energy-driven desalination for sustainable water production in the Middle East |
| title_fullStr | Renewable energy-driven desalination for sustainable water production in the Middle East |
| title_full_unstemmed | Renewable energy-driven desalination for sustainable water production in the Middle East |
| title_short | Renewable energy-driven desalination for sustainable water production in the Middle East |
| title_sort | renewable energy driven desalination for sustainable water production in the middle east |
| topic | Desalination renewable energy middle east energy transition |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19397038.2024.2394552 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohammadalshawaf renewableenergydrivendesalinationforsustainablewaterproductioninthemiddleeast AT nawafsalhajeri renewableenergydrivendesalinationforsustainablewaterproductioninthemiddleeast |