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A Levelized Cost Analysis for Solar-Energy-Powered Sea Water Desalination in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

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A Levelized Cost Analysis for Solar-Energy-Powered Sea Water Desalination in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi sustainability Article A Levelized Cost Analysis for Solar-Energy-Powered Sea Water Desalination in The Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abdullah Kaya 1,*, M. Evren Tok 2 and Muammer Koc 1 1 Engineering Department, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar; [email protected] 2 College of Islamic Studies, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 18 February 2019; Accepted: 14 March 2019; Published: 20 March 2019 Abstract: The Emirate of Abu Dhabi heavily relies on seawater desalination for its freshwater needs due to limited available resources. This trend is expected to increase further because of the growing population and economic activity, the rapid decline in limited freshwater reserves, and the aggravating effects of climate change. Seawater desalination in Abu Dhabi is currently done through thermal desalination technologies, such as multi-stage flash (MSF) and multi-effect distillation (MED), coupled with thermal power plants, which is known as co-generation. These thermal desalination methods are together responsible for more than 90% of the desalination capacity in the Emirate. Our analysis indicates that these thermal desalination methods are inefficient regarding energy consumption and harmful to the environment due to CO2 emissions and other dangerous byproducts. The rapid decline in the cost of solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems for energy production and reverse osmosis (RO) technology for desalination makes a combination of these two an ideal option for a sustainable desalination future in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. A levelized cost of water (LCW) study of a solar PV + RO system indicates that Abu Dhabi is well-positioned to utilize this technological combination for cheap and clean desalination in the coming years. Countries in the Sunbelt region with a limited freshwater capacity similar to Abu Dhabi may also consider the proposed system in this study for sustainable desalination. Keywords: desalination; solar power; reverse osmosis; Arabian Gulf; the levelized cost of water 1. Introduction The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is among the seven Emirates which formed The United Arab Emirates (UAE) located in the south-eastern part of The Arabian Peninsula. Abu Dhabi is known to hold a significant amount of oil and gas reserves [1]. Discovery of the oil and gas reserves in the 1960s has propelled The Emirate into a rapid development path which resulted in an exponential increase in population and economic activity [1]. The freshwater need of Abu Dhabi has been increased along this rapid development path which brought the need for seawater desalination. Figure1 indicates how Abu Dhabi has limited resources when it comes to fresh water, as more than 75% of these freshwater resources have already been depleted [2]. It is clear that Abu Dhabi is no different than the rest of the Arabian Peninsula, which is painted in red color due to excessive depletion of freshwater resources. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1691; doi:10.3390/su11061691 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2019, 11, 1691 2 of 18 SustainabilitySustainability 20192019,, 1111,, xx 22 ofof 1717 FigureFigure 1. 1. TheThe World’s World’s Fresh Fresh Water Water Availability byby Region.Region.Region. ReproducedReproduced fromfrom [[3].[3].3]. Most ofof thethe desalinationdesalination in in Abu Abu Dhabi Dhabi is is done done by by using using thermal thermal desalination desalination technologies, technologies, such such as asmulti-stage multi-stage flash flash (MSF) (MSF) and and multiple-effect multiple-effect distillation distillation (MED). (MED). More More than than 80% 80% ofof thethe desalinationdesalination capacitycapacity in in Abu Abu Dhabi Dhabi was was built built usingusing thethe MSFMSF technology,technology, which which was was followed followed by by MED MED as as recentlyrecently as 2008 [4]. [4]. These thermal desalination technologies are gene generallyrallyrally coupled coupled with with thermal thermal power power plants plants that that use either natural gas or oil for energy production. Due to CO 2 emissions and other harmful gases use either natural gas or oil forr energyenergy production.production. DueDue toto COCO22 emissionsemissions andand otherother harmfulharmful gasesgases fromfrom those those thermal thermal power power plants, plants, most most of of the the curre currentcurrent desalination systems in Abu Dhabi are harming thethe environment environment andand itsits citizenscitizens [[4].[4].4]. ItIt is is clearclear fromfrom FigureFigure 2 22 that thatthat Abu AbuAbu Dhabi’s Dhabi’sDhabi’s current currentcurrent practice practicepractice ofofof seawater seawaterseawater desalinationdesalinationdesalination isisis notnotnot veryveryvery sustainablesustainable considering considering thethe fact fact of of these these harmful harmful emissions.emisemissions.sions. It It is is expected expected th thatthat the desalination needs of Abu Dhabi will increase consistentlyconsistently intointo thethe 2030s2030s [[5].5]. Figure 2. Environmentally Harmful Emissions in Abu Dhabi due to desalination. Modified from [4]. Figure 2. Environmentally Harmful Emissions in Abu Dhabii duedue toto desalination.desalination. ModifiedModified fromfrom [4].[4]. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1691 3 of 18 Sustainability 2019, 11, x 3 of 17 FigureFigure3 depicts3 depicts that that desalination desalination will will play play a growing a growing role role in the in the future future for Abufor Abu Dhabi Dhabi to meet to meet its waterits water demand. demand. However, However, the the current current practice practice of usingof using MSF MSF and and MED MED technologies technologies for for desalination desalination isis not not a a good good option option regarding regarding the the sustainability sustainability criteria criteria from from environment environment and and health health viewpoints. viewpoints. TheThe issue issue of waterof water scarcity scarcity and the and need the for need desalination for desalination has actually has become actually a worldwide become phenomenona worldwide asphenomenon the demand as for the cheap demand and for sustainable cheap and freshwater sustainable escalates freshwater rapidly escalates [6]. rapidly The adverse [6]. The effects adverse of climateeffects of change climate in change the form in ofthe deteriorating form of deteriorating air quality, air severequality, droughts, severe droughts, and floods and requirefloods require rapid decarbonizationrapid decarbonization of the energyof the energy system, system, which which must includemust include the energy the energy for desalination for desalination as well as well [7]. Therefore,[7]. Therefore, meeting meeting the increasing the increasing demand demand for freshwater for freshwater through through seawater seawater desalination desalination in a clean, in a cheap,clean, andcheap, sustainable and sustainable way has way become has become a must fora must such for cities such Abu cities Dhabi Abu [ 8Dhabi–10]. [8–10]. FigureFigure 3. Abu3. Abu Dhabi’s Dhabi’s Water Water Demand Demand Projections Projections (in (in MillionMillion ImperialImperial Gallons per per Day Day (MIGD)). (MIGD)). Reproduced from [5]. Reproduced from [5]. ThisThis paperpaper seeksseeks toto understand understand howhow Abu Abu Dhabi Dhabi can can implement implement a a sustainable sustainable desalination desalination schemescheme by by looking looking at at the the recent recent developments developments in in both both the the desalination desalination and and energy energy sectors. sectors. MSF MSF and and MEDMED technologies technologies havehave beenbeen inin use use for for more more than than 50 50 years, years, and and any any further further efficiency efficiency gains gains are are limitedlimited [ 11[11].]. Both of these these technologies technologies require require thermal thermal heat, heat, which which can can be be either either acquired acquired from from the theburning burning of offossil fossil fuels fuels or or through through concentrated concentrated so solarlar or or geothermal energyenergy asas moremore sustainable sustainable options.options. TheThe thirdthird technologytechnology forfor desalinationdesalination isis calledcalled reversereverseosmosis osmosis(RO), (RO),which whichhas has seen seen an an exponentialexponential increase increase in in use use recently recently due due to to rapid rapid developments developments in in its its decreasing decreasing cost cost and and increasing increasing effectivenesseffectiveness [ 12[12,13].,13]. InIn mostmost partsparts ofof thethe world, world, RO RO has has become become the the main main choice choice for for desalination desalination technologytechnology as as a a result result [ 14[14].]. RO RO systems systems require require direct direct electricity electricity as as the the energy energy form form in in order order to to operate operate duringduring the the desalination desalination processprocess asas opposed opposed toto MSF MSF and and MED. MED. Surprisingly, Surprisingly, the the cost cost reduction reduction in in direct-electricity-producingdirect-electricity-producing renewablerenewable energy energy technologies technologies (wind (wind and and solar solar photovoltaic photovoltaic (PV)) (PV)) has has beenbeen much much sharper sharper compared compared to to the the thermal-heat-producing thermal-heat-producing renewables renewables (concentrated (concentrated solar solar and and geothermal)geothermal) [ 13[13,15].,15]. Considering Considering
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