Renewable energy-driven desalination technologies: A comprehensive review on challenges and potential applications of integrated systems

Abstract

Despite the tremendous improvements in conventional desalination technologies, its wide use is still limited due primarily to high energy requirements which are currently met with expensive fossil fuels. The use of alternative energy sources is essential to meet the growing demand for water desalination. In the last few decades a lot of effort has being directed in the use of different renewable energy (RE) sources to run desalination processes. However, the expansion of these efforts towards larger scale plants is hampered by several techno-economic challenges. Several medium-scale RE-driven desalination plants have been installed worldwide. Nevertheless, most of these plants are connected to the electrical grid to assure a continuous energy supply for stable operation. Furthermore, RE is mostly used to produce electric power which can be used to run desalination systems. This review paper focusses on an integrated approach in using RE-driven with an emphasis on solar and geothermal desalination technologies. Innovative and sustainable desalination processes which are suitable for integrated RE systems are presented. An assessment of the benefits of these technologies and their limitations are also discussed.

Tailoring surface charge and wetting property for robust oil-fouling mitigation in membrane distillation

“…For example, a distinct advantage of MD is the ability to harness low-grade thermal energy such as waste heat, geothermal energy, and solar thermal energy for desalination [4][5][6]. Such an advantage, together with the small system footprint and low capital cost, renders MD an appealing process for sustainable and off-grid desalination [7][8][9][10][11]. On the other hand, MD has also been identified as one of the only few promising technological candidates for desalinating shale gas produced water which, in certain cases, is too saline for reverse osmosis to treat [12][13][14].…”

Evaluating energy consumption of air gap membrane distillation for seawater desalination at pilot scale level

“…As a result, RO may not be suitable for small-scale seawater desalination applications, particularly in areas with unreliable or limited power supply. In this context, membrane distillation (MD), given its ability to use solar thermal and low-grade heat directly as the primary source of energy, has been identified as a potential candidate for small-scale and off-grid seawater desalination applications [2][3][4][5].…”

Wind and Geothermal Energy in Desalination: A Short Review on Progress and Sustainable Commercial Processes

“…This plant is also able to prevent the emission of 8,558.46 tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere every year [23]. Also, the desalination of 20 m 3 /d of seawater has been achieved using geothermal heat source at 80°C in Mexico [28]. These examples, among others, have been able to prove that wind and geothermal energy can be used practically in desalination plants.…”

“…For example, geothermal energy can reduce the specific cost of desalination by 30%. Surely, this is a significant reduction in cost and a considerable enhancement of the economic sustainability of potable water production [28]. However, it is worth noting that the use of wind and geothermal resources is limited by geographical factors, as these resources can only be used effectively in locations where they are surplus and can be practically exploited for energy generation.…”