A comprehensive study of optimizing renewable energy-water-heat integration for isolated islands in Persian Gulf

Abstract

This study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of implementing a hybrid renewable energy system (HES) with a reverse osmosis desalination unit to address critical energy and water shortages in the remote islands of Failaka, Larak, and Lavan in the Persian Gulf. The purpose is to provide a sustainable solution for producing fresh water, heat, and electricity in these isolated locations. The analysis identified the optimal system configuration for Failaka Island, achieving the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC) of $1.09 million, a Cost of Energy (COE) of $0.091/kWh, and a Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) of 0.064. This configuration also reached the highest renewable energy fraction at 17.8 %. Additionally, Failaka Island's system produced 20,728 kWh/year of excess electricity, the highest among the islands, and maintained the lowest operating costs at $52,360/year. Environmental analysis showed a significant reduction in carbon footprint, with Failaka using 21.6 % less diesel and 1.4 % less natural gas than Larak Island, and 22.2 % less diesel and 2.1 % less natural gas than Lavan Island. Furthermore, implementing heat recovery reduced CO2 emissions by up to 15.2 % on Lavan Island, enhancing the system's overall sustainability and cost-effectiveness.