A multi-period mixed integer linear programming model for water and energy supply planning in Kuwait

Abstract

The demand for water often necessitates desalination, particularly in arid coastal environments. Desalination is often integrated with electrical cogeneration. The demands for water and electricity change over time and are subject to uncertainty. A country-wide large-scale energy and water cogeneration planning model for Kuwait is formulated as a multi-period mixed integer linear programming problem and solved to minimize the net present value over the time period of 2013–2050. Five different plant technology options were considered for desalination and cogeneration including Oil & Multi Stage Flash, Natural Gas & Multi-Effect Distillation, Natural Gas & Reverse Osmosis, Solar Energy & Multi-Effect Distillation, and Solar Energy & Reverse Osmosis. Both water and energy usage in Kuwait and data from existing plants were utilized in providing the parameters and forecasts necessary for solution of the mathematical programming model. The model provides technology choice and associated capacity decisions for existing plants, new plants at green sites, and existing plant capacity expansions as well as their timing to meet the demands.