Techno-economic analysis of hybrid renewable energy system to drive a small reverse osmosis desalination plant in NRC Nubaria Farm, Egypt

Abstract

The process of desalination is crucial in mitigating the deficiency of drinkable water in the rural regions of Egypt. The implementation of hybrid energy systems, which integrate various renewable energy sources, presents a viable methodology for supplying potable water to islands and coastal areas that are devoid of adequate electrical infrastructure. This research conducts a comprehensive assessment of the technical configuration, sizing, and economic optimization of a reverse osmosis (RO) plant utilizing an off-grid hybrid energy system. The RO facility is designated for implementation at the NRC farm located in Nubaria, Egypt, with a projected freshwater production capacity of 65 m 3 /day. In this simulation, six distinct configurations of energy sources were analyzed to ascertain the most optimal arrangement for the specified site. The Homer software was employed to identify a system that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible. The simulation was primarily concerned with the computation of the net present cost (NPC,) cost of energy (COE), and carbon dioxide emissions (CO 2 ). Through the analysis, Configuration 3 was identified as the most efficient system setup, achieving a renewable fraction of 100 and comprises a 15 kW photovoltaic PV array, a 6 kW wind turbine, a 9 kW power converter, and a total nominal capacity of batteries 22 kWh. This particular configuration resulted in the lowest calculated COE $ 0.166/kWh and NPC $54,533.