Can Desalination be an Economically Viable Solution for Water Scarcity?

Farshad Mohammadi; Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani; Yousef Al-Abdullah; Gerald Thomas Heydt

doi:10.1109/GHTC46095.2019.9033050

Can Desalination be an Economically Viable Solution for Water Scarcity?

Farshad Mohammadi, Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani, Yousef Al-Abdullah, Gerald Thomas Heydt

Engineering, Ira A. Fulton Schools of (IAFSE)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Seawater desalination is a technology which can produce potable water for many locations that currently face water scarcity. Various desalination technologies have been developed and used for years, and some locations rely on desalination to provide water for their population. However, despite all the technology enhancements, water desalination is viewed as an energy-intensive process. In this study, we discuss the economic aspects of large-scale electric desalination plants and suggest some suitable solutions to reduce the levelized cost of water production. Our simulation results show that the coordinated operation of power generation and water desalination can lead to a sizeable reduction in the final cost. Consequently, water availability can be enhanced for the communities that face water shortage.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781728117805
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC46095.2019.9033050
State	Published - Oct 2019
Event	9th Annual IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019 - Seattle, United States Duration: Oct 17 2019 → Oct 20 2019

Publication series

Name	2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019

Conference

Conference	9th Annual IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019
Country/Territory	United States
City	Seattle
Period	10/17/19 → 10/20/19

Keywords

Economic analysis
electric energy markets
levelized cost of water
reverse osmosis
water desalination
water scarcity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Safety Research
Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
Computer Networks and Communications
Computer Science Applications
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Biomedical Engineering
Health(social science)

Access to Document

10.1109/GHTC46095.2019.9033050

Cite this

Mohammadi, F., Sahraei-Ardakani, M., Al-Abdullah, Y., & Heydt, G. T. (2019). Can Desalination be an Economically Viable Solution for Water Scarcity? In 2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019 Article 9033050 (2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC46095.2019.9033050

Can Desalination be an Economically Viable Solution for Water Scarcity? / Mohammadi, Farshad; Sahraei-Ardakani, Mostafa; Al-Abdullah, Yousef et al.
2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2019. 9033050 (2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Mohammadi, F, Sahraei-Ardakani, M, Al-Abdullah, Y & Heydt, GT 2019, Can Desalination be an Economically Viable Solution for Water Scarcity? in 2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019., 9033050, 2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 9th Annual IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019, Seattle, United States, 10/17/19. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC46095.2019.9033050

@inproceedings{ed9dcf03f8564423a3aa387a0bfb9ebc,

title = "Can Desalination be an Economically Viable Solution for Water Scarcity?",

abstract = "Seawater desalination is a technology which can produce potable water for many locations that currently face water scarcity. Various desalination technologies have been developed and used for years, and some locations rely on desalination to provide water for their population. However, despite all the technology enhancements, water desalination is viewed as an energy-intensive process. In this study, we discuss the economic aspects of large-scale electric desalination plants and suggest some suitable solutions to reduce the levelized cost of water production. Our simulation results show that the coordinated operation of power generation and water desalination can lead to a sizeable reduction in the final cost. Consequently, water availability can be enhanced for the communities that face water shortage.",

keywords = "Economic analysis, electric energy markets, levelized cost of water, reverse osmosis, water desalination, water scarcity",

author = "Farshad Mohammadi and Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani and Yousef Al-Abdullah and Heydt, {Gerald Thomas}",

year = "2019",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1109/GHTC46095.2019.9033050",

language = "English (US)",

series = "2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

booktitle = "2019 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019",

note = "9th Annual IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, GHTC 2019 ; Conference date: 17-10-2019 Through 20-10-2019",