Life cycle assessment of salinity gradient energy recovery by reverse electrodialysis in a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant

Tristán, Carolina; Rumayor, Marta; Domínguez-Ramos, Antonio; Fallanza, Marcos; Ibáñez, Raquel; Ortiz, Inmaculada

doi:10.1039/d0se00372g

Cited by 24 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…However, a detailed cost-efficiency analysis would be needed to establish the eco-efficiency of this strategy, especially when considering thermal energy requirements. Tristán et al [ 302 ] carried out such evaluation for a SWRO-RED process. Their detailed LCA study demonstrated the low environmental impact of RED (comparable to solar and wind power systems) and identified that the fabrication of PES membrane spacers is the step with the highest energy cost.…”

Section: Integration Of Ed Technologies In New Sustainable Strategmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrodialytic Processes: Market Overview, Membrane Phenomena, Recent Developments and Sustainable Strategies

Bazinet

Geoffroy

2020

Membranes

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In the context of preserving and improving human health, electrodialytic processes are very promising perspectives. Indeed, they allow the treatment of water, preservation of food products, production of bioactive compounds, extraction of organic acids, and recovery of energy from natural and wastewaters without major environmental impact. Hence, the aim of the present review is to give a global portrait of the most recent developments in electrodialytic membrane phenomena and their uses in sustainable strategies. It has appeared that new knowledge on pulsed electric fields, electroconvective vortices, overlimiting conditions and reversal modes as well as recent demonstrations of their applications are currently boosting the interest for electrodialytic processes. However, the hurdles are still high when dealing with scale-ups and real-life conditions. Furthermore, looking at the recent research trends, potable water and wastewater treatment as well as the production of value-added bioactive products in a circular economy will probably be the main applications to be developed and improved. All these processes, taking into account their principles and specificities, can be used for specific eco-efficient applications. However, to prove the sustainability of such process strategies, more life cycle assessments will be necessary to convince people of the merits of coupling these technologies.

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Section: Integration Of Ed Technologies In New Sustainable Strategmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrodialytic Processes: Market Overview, Membrane Phenomena, Recent Developments and Sustainable Strategies

Bazinet

Geoffroy

2020

Membranes

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“…where GWP 100, RED stack is the GWP of the RED stack (kg CO2-eq) as defined in Tristán et al's LCA [66], and E plant and LT are the retrieved exergy yield or net energy yield (kWh year −1 ) and the lifetime (20 years) of the RED plant, respectively. The annual energy yield of a RED plant working at full capacity-i.e., 8760 full load hours per year (FLH)-is given by: Figure A1.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The local grid mix's GWP 100 indicator per unit of electricity produced was retrieved from the ecoinvent database 3.6 [65] (dataset: market for electricity, medium voltage, Appendix B). The GWP 100 of the industrial-scale RED stack was estimated based on the Tristán et al [66] life cycle assessment (LCA) of a RED unit equal to that of our assessment, normalized to the energy yield (net specific energy or specific salinity gradient exergy retrieved for conversion) over the lifetime of the RED plant (20 years) in each location and energy supply scenario (Appendix B).…”

Section: Estimation Of Ghg Emissions: Global Warming Potential (Gwp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of Desalination

et al. 2020

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Salinity gradient energy harvesting by reverse electrodialysis (RED) is a promising renewable source to decarbonize desalination. This work surveys the potential reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions gained from RED integration in 20 medium-to-large-sized seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants spread worldwide. Using the validated RED system’s model from our research group, we quantified the grid mix share of the SWRO plant’s total energy demand and total emissions RED would abate (i) in its current state of development and (ii) if captured all salinity gradient exergy (SGE). Results indicate that more saline and warmer SWRO brines enhance RED’s net power density, yet source availability may restrain specific energy supply. If all SGE were harnessed, RED could supply ~40% of total desalination plants’ energy demand almost in all locations, yet energy conversion irreversibility and untapped SGE decline it to ~10%. RED integration in the most emission-intensive SWRO plants could relieve up to 1.95 kg CO2-eq m−3. Findings reveal that RED energy recovery from SWRO concentrate effluents could bring desalination sector sizeable energy and emissions savings provided future advancements bring RED technology closer to its thermodynamic limit.

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“…In this sense, the integration of RED into desalination facilities is presented as a promising alternative towards the achievement of self-sufficient or low-energy consuming systems, although capital costs are still limiting its installation. Moreover, life cycle assessments of RED units conclude that RED is environmentally competitive with other RE such as solar PV energy or wind energy [67].…”

Section: Alternative A2-salinity Gradient Energy Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical and Energy Recovery Alternatives in SWRO Desalination through Electro-Membrane Technologies

Herrero-Gonzalez

Ibáñez

2021

Applied Sciences

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Electro-membrane technologies are versatile processes that could contribute towards more sustainable seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination in both freshwater production and brine management, facilitating the recovery of materials and energy and driving the introduction of the circular economy paradigm in the desalination industry. Besides the potential possibilities, the implementation of electro-membrane technologies remains a challenge. The aim of this work is to present and evaluate different alternatives for harvesting renewable energy and the recovery of chemicals on an SWRO facility by means of electro-membrane technology. Acid and base self-supply by means of electrodialysis with bipolar membranes is considered, together with salinity gradient energy harvesting by means of reverse electrodialysis and pH gradient energy by means of reverse electrodialysis with bipolar membranes. The potential benefits of the proposed alternatives rely on environmental impact reduction is three-fold: (a) water bodies protection, as direct brine discharge is avoided, (b) improvements in the climate change indicator, as the recovery of renewable energy reduces the indirect emissions related to energy production, and (c) reduction of raw material consumption, as the main chemicals used in the facility are produced in-situ. Moreover, further development towards an increase in their technology readiness level (TRL) and cost reduction are the main challenges to face.

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Life cycle assessment of salinity gradient energy recovery by reverse electrodialysis in a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant

Abstract: LCA of lab-scale and large-scale stand-alone RED stacks and an up-scaled RED system co-located with a SWRO desalination plant.

Cited by 24 publications

References 65 publications

Electrodialytic Processes: Market Overview, Membrane Phenomena, Recent Developments and Sustainable Strategies

Electrodialytic Processes: Market Overview, Membrane Phenomena, Recent Developments and Sustainable Strategies

Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of Desalination

Chemical and Energy Recovery Alternatives in SWRO Desalination through Electro-Membrane Technologies

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