Abstract
The Levant area of the Middle East suffers from both chronic water scarcity and high population growth. It is also a region highly dependent of fossil fuels. In order to address current and expected water demands, several countries in the region, including Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA), are depending increasingly on desalination, which is expected to intensify energy consumption and energy related emissions. Given that the region also benefits from high levels of solar irradiation nearly year-round, much attention has been given to the possibility of developing renewable energy in general and for desalination specifically. This paper presents partial results of a pre-feasibility study assessing the prospects of transfers of desalinated water from Israel and/or the PA, which have access to the Mediterranean Sea, to Jordan, in exchange for renewable solar-produced electricity from Jordan, which, unlike its neighbors, has an abundance of available open space suitable for solar production. The analysis shows that single-axis tracking photovoltaic (PV) systems appear to be the most economically feasible option. Moreover, the study shows that the proposed idea of international cooperation and water-energy exchanges, while facing political obstacles, could provide numerous economic, environmental and geopolitical benefits to all parties involved. As such, an arrangement such as that examined may be a more promising means of promoting both desalination and renewable energy than if each country unilaterally develops desalination and renewable energy in isolation from one another.
Highlights
Introduction and Study RationaleLarge-scale seawater desalination is already developed in Israel and is being planned in Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA)
We assumed constant long-term average precipitation rates freshwater assumed to decrease from recent levels of 94 m/c/y to 80 m/c/y, as and pastnatural policiesrenewable and campaigns have supplies, and that all additional water would be sourced from desalination
The countries of the study region are increasingly turning towards desalination to provide fresh water to their growing populations
Summary
Large-scale seawater desalination is already developed in Israel and is being planned in Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA). While Israel and the PA have access to the Mediterranean, and relatively easy access to desalination, they have relatively little available open spaces necessary for large scale renewable energy facilities. Given the comparative advantages of the different parties, there is a potential for water-energy exchanges in which Israel and/or The Palestinian Authority would produce desalinated water for use in Jordan, and in exchange, Jordan would supply renewable energy for the region. This paper primarily presents an updated version of the technical and cost assessments of such a project’s renewable energy production potential, along with a discussion of some of the geo-political implications of such an arrangement.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
