Sustainable desalination strategies: Techno-economic analysis, life-cycle assessment, and optimization of renewable energy-powered plants in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Addressing global water scarcity amidst escalating energy demands and climate change challenges requires innovative approaches in seawater desalination, particularly in arid regions like Saudi Arabia. This journal article style dissertation comprises a comprehensive exploration of sustainable desalination strategies, focusing on techno-economic analysis, life-cycle assessment, and optimization of renewable energy-powered desalination plants. In this dissertation, Chapter 2 provides a thorough review of recent advancements in desalination technologies, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable solutions. It highlights the significance of data-driven insights and compares various renewable energy sources for desalination, laying the groundwork for subsequent studies. Chapters 3 and 4 present comparative techno-economic and life-cycle assessments of stand-alone reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants powered by integrated solar Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and geothermal energy through Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). The analyses reveal the superior economic and environmental performance of the integrated CSP-geothermal scenario, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable solution for water scarcity challenges in Saudi Arabia. In Chapter 5, a mathematical optimization approach is employed to minimize the Levelized Cost of Water (LCOW) for the proposed desalination plant. By integrating CSP and geothermal energy, an optimal LCOW value of 0.582 $/m3 is achieved, underscoring the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy-driven desalination in Saudi Arabia. Collectively, these studies contribute valuable insights into the optimization of renewable energy-powered desalination plants, offering a pathway towards sustainable water management in arid regions.