Techno-Economic Analysis of Renewable Energy-Powered RO Desalination System under Various Energy Storage Scenarios

Abstract

A comparative techno-economic analysis under the climatic conditions of Wadi Mujib, Jordan was carried out to select the suitable brackish water RO desalination system powered by renewable energy with two types of energy storage technology under two scenarios. These are: PV/T with batteries, and PV/T with pumped storage. Mathematical models of different scenarios were formulated and solved using MATLAB/SIMULINK and results obtained. The effects of brackish water temperature on the RO pressure and specific energy consumption were assessed and economic analysis conducted. The results show that the minimum LCOE and LCOW for PV/T with pumped storage in comparison with PV/T with batteries are 0.19 $/kWh and 1.55 $/m3 respectively, while the LCOE and LCOW for PV/T with batteries are 0.41 $/kWh and 2.28 $/m3, respectively. Also, the LCOS of pumped storage is 0.161 $/kWh while for the batteries is 0.524 $/kWh. Thus, these results show that PV/T with pumped storage system is more economical as compared to PV/T with batteries system. For RO system, the increase in water temperature results in a decrease in inlet pressure and the specific energy consumption.