Szalai, R. (2016). Technical and economic analysis of combining RES with desalination technologies in Mediterranean countries [Master Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2016.41128
Desalination; RES; Economic analysis; combining RES with Desalination and Mediterranean countries
en
Abstract:
Water is a strategic resource. 71 % of the planet is covered by water. From this tremendous volume drinking water is just 2.5%. According to UNESCO more than 1 billion people on the earth suffer from water scarcity. The more rapid the number of people increases, the more rapid the demand for water utilization expands. Different interests bring face to face with each other like: industry, agriculture and households. Therefore the aim of the master thesis is to analyze the opportunities of water production from sea water for drinking water or industrial water purposes. The costs of electricity during the water production provide 54% of the O&M costs. Therefore, the core idea to reduce the water production costs is combining the existing renewable energy source like photovoltaic or wind with desalination technology like reverse osmosis. The thesis will provide a general technical overview, the combining option of technology for a selected location in Mediterranean countries and an analysis from the economic point of view. The core questions to be answered are: Which renewable energy source would be suitable for sea water desalination? Would the implementation of desalination technology be feasible for the chosen Mediterranean country? What would a competitive water production cost €/m3 be? To answer this question, first of all, the country needs to be analyzed from the demand side, political willingness to be interested creating a pleasurable regulation frame conditions. Geographical and water data are necessary for choosing the location. After all, the technical and financial requirement will provide a result, that helps the decision maker to see the investment opportunity. The potential investor can use the master thesis as an entire business plan. The pre-selected frames for the master thesis: The analyzed countries are Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco The considered renewable technologies are photovoltaic and wind energy The thesis focus on reverse osmosis desalination technology After determining the frame parameters of the master thesis, the main countries need to be investigated to present basic background information about the possible choice of area for the project. The examination is followed by the determination of area, the required water quality. To hold the focus on economic feasibility, the demand analysis was carefully realized. The technical description of the possible desalination technologies gave an informational overview followed by the detail characterization of a seawater desalination plant. In the economic part of the master thesis, the capital cost, operation and maintenance and water production cost are discussed. In the end the three different possible scenarios for water production will be calculated and discussed in details to answer the core questions of the master thesis.