Fuchs, Janina, J.F.F. (2023) Co-locating Desalination Plants and Reverse Electrodialysis A Systematic Literature Review on Economic and Technical Barriers. Master thesis.
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Abstract
Desalination is an increasingly common freshwater-provision strategy in arid regions with access to the ocean or another salt-water source. However, it is energy-intensive and is therefore responsible for substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Further, toxic salt plumes are created in nearby bodies of water by waste desalination brine. Reverse electrodialysis (RED) in colocation with desalination plants is a promising method for reducing GHG emissions by creating renewable energy that can be used on-site. Additionally, through the process of RED, desalination waste brine is diluted which mitigates its toxicity to aquatic life. However, despite its apparent benefits, RED is to date not commonly used in combination with desalination. This thesis is seeking to provide an overview of data about economic, as well as technological barriers in the way of upscaling and commercializing the approach by focusing on the following overarching research question: What are the main economic and technical barriers that impede the progress in technological readiness and subsequent upscaling and commercialization of integrated seawater desalination and reverse electrodialysis technology? To elucidate this question, a systematic literature review including 75 publications was conducted. Quotations indicating economic and technical barriers were marked and categorized. Based on these quotations, four main barriers were identified. These barriers are (1) a low power density and energy efficiency, (2) high levelized cost of energy, (3) technological immaturity (4) a lack of competitiveness of SWDU-RED compared to technical solutions for the decarbonizing of the desalination industry and brine valorization. It was further theorized that the technological immaturity of SWDU-RED is one of the prime reasons for the low power density and energy efficiency of SWDU-RED which are in turn in a causal relationship with the high costs associated with the technology. Additionally, the high costs may give rise to the lack of competitiveness. It is concluded that these main barriers might cause SWDU-RED to fall victim to the so-called Valley of Death, a funding gap between the proof of concept within academia and the adoption of the technology by the industry on a commercial scale. Further, it was concluded that pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is likely a more suitable technology for the approach of co-locating desalination (SWDU-PRO) with salinity gradient energy because it delivers higher power densities. Therefore, it is recommended that in the context of decision-making about sustainable energy strategies in the desalination industry, funding is allocated for the development of SWDU-PRO instead of SWDU-RED. Moreover, additional research concerning legal barriers against salinity gradient energy applications, as well as research into the techno-economic feasibility of other novel RED technologies is advised.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Degree programme: | Environmental & Infrastructure Planning |
| Supervisor: | Geet, M.T. van and Kann, F.M.G. van |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Aug 2023 11:20 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Aug 2023 11:20 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4335 |
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