Innovative system for BWRO desalination powered by PV and pumped hydro storage – Economic and GHG emissions analysis

Abstract

Brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) desalination driven by photovoltaic (PV) system as a primary energy source and pumped hydro storage (PHS) as an intermediate storage offers an energy-efficient and competitive solution to overcome freshwater scarcity. This innovative system for drinking water production from brackish groundwater was developed and technically analyzed in a prior work. In this paper, the entire system with two power supply scenarios: scenario 1 (PV, PHS and battery storage) and scenario 2 (PV, PHS and grid) is economically assessed and its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are analyzed. Thereafter, this system is compared with the state-of-the-art and BWRO systems powered by a conventional energy source (grid or diesel generator) to discuss and evaluate the future role of this innovative system in the BWRO desalination market. For off-grid operation, the innovative system with scenario 1 is the most economical system for drinking water production from brackish groundwater compared to the other examined systems as long as the diesel fuel price is equal to or more expensive than 0.58 US$/L. Moreover, the minimum specific GHG emissions produced per unit of drinking water production in scenario 1 is 46.8 % less than in the current system (PV and battery storage).