Reverse osmosis integrated with renewable energy as sustainable technology: A review

• Published in: Desalination 2024-07, Vol.581, p.117590, Article 117590
• Main Authors: Nurjanah, Isnaeni, Chang, Ting-Ting, You, Sheng-Jie, Huang, Chih-Yung, Sean, Wu-Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Desalination; Electrodialysis; Renewable energy; Reverse osmosis; Wave power
• ISSN: 0011-9164; 1873-4464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2024.117590

As stated in Sustainable Development Goals number 6 and 13, clean water and sanitation and energy-related carbon emissions as climate action issues have emerged as serious issues within the United Nations. Around 150 countries rely on seawater desalination plants as their water resource. Reverse osmosis membrane technology is the most widely used seawater desalination technology for water supply. Taking water resources, developing renewable energy, and recycling resources have become the United Nations' core sustainable development goal. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview of renewable energy in reverse osmosis, especially newly developed renewable energy such as wave power. This paper includes technical issues, environment, and economic impact. In addition, compared with other energy sources, photovoltaic and hydropower energy utilization leads to a lower carbon footprint. Both energy produce a carbon footprint of around 0.08 kg CO2 eq/m3. Control systems and energy storage management are the challenges in developing integrated renewable energy with reverse osmosis. Suitable pretreatment and the effect of direct use of renewable energy on the reverse osmosis process, especially on membrane and pump lifetime, should also be considered in future studies. [Display omitted] •Fluctuations and intermittence in wind and PV would affect on the process performance.•Energy storage management helps to keep the system stable•Water storage can assist in having enough water and store extra•PV and hydropower energy produce carbon footprint around 0.08 kg CO2 eq/m3.