Investigation into economical desalination using optimized hybrid renewable energy system

This paper investigates the use of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) in Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination. Mathematical model aided with a newly developed computer program for sizing (HRES) components. The study evaluates the individual and total expenses needed as well as the amount of excess renewable energy production. An optimization program was developed to select the best (HRES) combination that can produce desalinated water in a relatively economic cost. It demonstrates an investigated optimization approach based on minimization of the excess energy. It presents the impact of the considered optimization technique on the unit cost of energy and consequently unit cost of desalinated water. Unit production costs of both energy and desalinated water for two existing small and medium (RO) plants powered with conventional electricity grid are compared with the generated electricity from optimized (HRES). Cost sensitivity evaluation for (HRES) components to estimate the most economical price of (HRES) for desalination is presented. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.