Sustainable Water Supply Solutions: Examining the Feasibility of Reverse Osmosis Systems in Shahrekord City

Combining wind and solar technologies with reverse osmosis (RO) desalination offers a novel solution to combat water scarcity in Shahrekord, Iran. This innovative approach harnesses renewable energy sources to power the desalination process, potentially resulting in reduced energy expenses and carbon emissions compared to traditional fossil fuel-based methods. Furthermore, this study has the potential to shed light on the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating multiple renewable energy sources for water desalination in mountainous regions. The present work is the first study of its kind aimed at minimizing the energy consumption of the RO system pump and then finding the optimal configuration of a microgrid based on renewable energy in off-grid and on-grid modes. Comparing with traditional methods of using the power grid and diesel generators to supply the required power for the RO system prompts decision-makers and investors in this field to better advance the industry based on the energy-economic-environmental analyses of this work. In this research, the initial phase involved an examination using WAVE V.1.82q software to assess the viability of purifying surface water to provide a daily water supply of 3220 m3, employing BW30-400 modules. Subsequently, efforts were made to minimize operational pressure and thus lower the operational costs of the system through the utilization of low-energy modules like XLE-440i. Lastly, the evaluation of the power supply for the RO pump system was carried out across six different scenarios using HOMER V.2.81 software. The simulation results indicated that in the most favorable scenario, the energy required per m3 of water treatment stands at approximately 0.53 kWh. When a diesel generator serves as a backup, the lowest electricity production cost is associated with the solar system at $0.355 per kWh, with solar energy contributing to 91% of electricity generation. On the other hand, when grid electricity is the backup source, the lowest electricity production cost amounts to $0.024 per kWh, with only 1% of electricity generated from solar energy. Comparing different scenarios, it was found that employing renewable energy sources for desalination purposes has manifold benefits.