Expert opinions on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of utilizing nuclear reactor waste heat for water desalination

Abstract

Using waste heat generated by nuclear reactors for non-electric applications is vital for reducing environmental costs and thermal discharges. Waste heat is a significant portion of the reactor's overall energy and could reach up to two-thirds of the output power depending on the reactor design and efficiency. Despite the benefits of using waste heat, especially for essential applications like water desalination in areas with limited freshwater resources, the potential utilization is not yet applied. This study examines the strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T) of using nuclear reactor waste heat for desalination in the Arabian Gulf region across four main areas: technical, environmental, socioeconomic, safety, and regulatory. The identified SWOT factors are combined with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize them based on input from relevant experts. The resulting integrated SWOT-AHP analysis identified global factor priorities and concluded with five consistent measures to support decision-makers in evaluating the feasibility of utilizing nuclear reactor waste heat for seawater desalination. Overall, the study revealed that regulation and relevant safety measures present the primary obstacle in this application, while enabling research and development was emphasized as the key factor to address these issues and increase confidence in decision-making.