ECONOMIC-ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER FOR SEAWATER DESALINATION

Concentrated solar powered-desalination technology can be used to desalinate water which will resolve water scarcity and minimize the negative impact of fossil fuels on our planet. In this regard, this study aims to fulfill the demand for freshwater and reduce air pollution generated by water desalination by replacing fossil fuels with concentrating solar power. Different energy scenarios including full grid, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), and CSP-grid have been explored to assess the potential of running Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination. The assessment was examined with the help of System Advisor Model (SAM) and Desalination Economic Evaluation Program (DEEP) software. SAM enables the design of a concentrated solar energy plant and demonstrates the plant's performance, while DEEP permits the design of a water desalination unit and its integration with a concentrated solar power plant. The three scenarios have been evaluated from economic and environmental perspectives. It is found that the CSP technology is not economically feasible for running desalination compared to using fossil fuel, however, taking into consideration removing fuel subsidized and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, the CSP is an appealing option as greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 96% compared to the grid.