Development of an integrated solar and wind driven energy system for desalination and power generation

Abstract

Energy and water are clearly recognized by people as two primary life-sustaining commodities. In terms of current global environmental initiatives, it is important to provide them both in a nature-friendly manner. This study develops a new renewable-based integrated energy system for power generation and desalination and investigates it specifically for Antigua and Barbuda, a Caribbean island nation, to reduce the region’s reliance on a volatile and polluting fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Solar and wind, abundantly available in the region, are considered and utilized as the two energy sources enabling electricity and potable water production in a nature-friendly manner. The excess power generated by photovoltaic solar panels and wind turbine arrays is mechanically stored by compressing air into off-shore underwater balloons to provide a reliable renewable-based energy infrastructure for Antigua and Barbuda. The system’s performance is investigated energetically and exergetically by using thermodynamic approaches. In this regard, it is evaluated that the proposed system is capable of operating with energy and exergy efficiencies of 45.4% and 37.6%, respectively. The system’s annual electricity production is evaluated as 316 GWh corresponding to 102.6% of annual electricity requirement of Antigua and Barbuda. In addition, the system supplies 124 tons of fresh water on a daily-basis and compressed air to fuel 140 short-range (80 km) pneumatic vehicles. It is, furthermore, found that potential system implementation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region by 88%.