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26-43 

26 

 

 

 

Review 

Economic analysis of an off-grid solar PV for 

small scale desalination unit 
Hüseyin Gökçekuş 1,3,4, Youssef Kassem 1,2,3,4, Marilyn Hannah Godwin5*, Aliyu Babangida5 

1Department of Civil Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia 

(via Mersin 10, Turkey), Cyprus 
2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia (via Mersin 10, 

Turkey), Cyprus 
3Energy, Environment, and Water Research Center, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia (via Mersin 10, Turkey), 

Cyprus 
4Engineering Faculty, Kyrenia University, 99138 Kyrenia (via Mersin 10, Turkey), Cyprus 
5Department of Environmental Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty, Near East University, 

99138 Nicosia (via Mersin 10, Turkey), Cyprus 

A R T I C L E   I N F O 
 

Article history: 
Received 01 August 2022  
Received in revised form 
03 September 2022 
Accepted 07 September 2022 
 
 
Keywords:  
Off-grid PV, Desalination,  
Climate change,  
Renewable energy 
 
 
 
*Corresponding author 
Email address: allynhannahgodwin@gmail.com 
  
 

 
DOI: 10.55670/fpll.futech.1.3.5 

A B S T R A C T 
 

Water scarcity, water quality difficulties, floods, and droughts are among the 
present challenges that climate change may exacerbate. Availability and easy 
access to safe and clean drinking water are fundamental human rights that have 
become a global challenge. Desalination of seawater is becoming a fast-growing 
alternative for water scarcity, due to the significant quantity of energy required 
to perform this procedure and also a large amount of CO2 emission into the 
atmosphere while producing this energy, renewable energy is a significant 
alternative energy source as well as a readily available source of clean energy. 
Wind and solar power, in particular, can provide significant economic benefits 
by bringing electricity to rural areas without transmission lines. The off-grid 
Photovoltaic (PV) system is one that is not linked to the power grid. This means 
that the entire amount of energy produced is stored and used on-site. The 
specific goal of this study is to identify and assess the use of renewable energy 
for an off-grid photovoltaic system in small-scale desalination units, aiming to 
reduce water demand in an environmentally friendly manner. The data used 
are secondary in nature, primarily summarizing different articles and papers 
from previous research. The method used in this study is a meta-analysis (a 
literature review). This paper concluded that an off-grid solar PV system for 
small-scale desalination units is a cost-effective environmental solution 
because generating energy from renewable sources has no or less 
environmental consequences and reduces air pollution. 

 
 

 

1. Introduction 

The scarcity of water, issues with floods, water quality, 

and droughts are all current problems that may become even 

more severe as a result of climate change. Water is a critical 

resource for both socioeconomic growth and environmental 

conservation. Changes in temperature and precipitation as a 

result of shifts in the availability of water resources, affect all 

involved sectors [1]. In some regions, the effects of climate 

change will make water scarcity worse, while in others, it will 

reduce runoff (most notably the Mediterranean region, parts 

of Europe and Central Europe, as well as Southern America 

and Southern Africa) both the climate and the water systems 

are strongly linked to one another [2]. For example, the 

changing climate has an effect not only on the amount of 

water that is used but also on its quality and quantity. When 

temperatures rise, water consumption typically goes up, 

particularly for irrigation, while it goes down when the 

number of precipitations increases. The effects of climate 

change can be made worse when they strike regions that 

already have limited water resources and frequently 

 

 

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H. Gökçekuş et al. /Future Technology                                                                                November 2022| Volume 01 | Issue 03 | Pages 26-43 

27 

 

experience droughts, which can lead to an imbalance between 

the amount of water demanded and the amount supplied. 

This implementation of environmental impact targets as a 

result of the impacts of climate change, such as the emission 

of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere all over the world, 

has highlighted the necessity to adopt alternative energy 

sources capable of meeting demand while causing minimal 

environmental damage. Renewable energy is a major 

alternative energy source and widely available source of clean 

energy. However, in order to promote and attract investors 

interested in installing solar energy systems for power 

generation, the economic viability of the projects must be 

evaluated. Economic analysis is basically a cost-benefit 

analysis. It begins by ranking projects based on their 

economic viability to better allocate resources. Its purpose is 

to evaluate the welfare impact of a project. It is also used to 

determine how efficiently the economy or a component of it 

operates; however, it is an efficient approach to determining 

the adequate use of scarce resources. An off-grid PV system is 

one that is not linked to the power grid. This means that the 

entire amount of energy produced is stored and used on-site. 

Off-grid photovoltaic systems use energy stored in a battery 

bank to power themselves. The PV system is an electric power 

system that generates usable solar power via photovoltaics. 

The process of removing salt from seawater is known as 

desalination. 

Seawater desalination is and will continue to be an 

important procedure in many places of the world where fresh 

water is scarce. However, every desalination technique uses a 

substantial quantity of energy during the process. Traditional 

energy sources are causing growing concern, not only due to 

rising costs but also to pollution issues caused by the 

combustion of fossil fuels. Traditional centralized water 

systems gather and filter water from fresh, brackish, or 

marine sources prior to transferring it to distant urban areas 

due to water scarcity in some areas (in particular the Middle 

East) for uses or distance from the water whereby water is 

transported, and they are closer to the seawater [3]. Among 

the basic and fundamental human rights is access to good and 

clean water for their daily basic needs. Hence, the study of 

solar energy has been conducted for decades so as to trim 

down the high cost of solar panels and at the same time 

enhance the efficiency of these panels, therefore making it a 

very practical renewable source. One potential solution, 

desalination, has been plagued by issues such as high energy 

requirements and harmful byproducts. As a result, recent 

research on solar-powered desalination has the potential to 

be a game changer and one of the most effective solutions to 

the present water issue. As such, this will give access to tap 

into an almost infinite supply of water while emitting no 

harmful pollutants. Water desalination has been practiced for 

thousands of years; hence it is important to study the 

economics of off-grid solar PV to know if it’s a viable solution 

for small-scale desalination units. In many places today, using 

renewable energy sources (RES) to power desalination 

devices is a practical technique for producing fresh water. 

Renewable energy-powered desalination systems are 

especially promising for isolated areas where connection to 

the public electrical grid is either prohibitively expensive or 

impracticable and where water shortage is acute. RES 

desalination will become more attractive as technologies 

advance and as clean water and inexpensive conservative 

energy sources become scarcer. Several solar, wind, 

geothermal, and hybrid solar/wind desalination plants have 

been installed, the majority of which are limited-capacity 

demonstration projects [4]. The most significant advantage of 

using renewable energy is its long-term viability. This means 

it will never be depleted. On the contrary, fossil fuels will be 

depleted eventually. They do not emit any toxic gases that 

contribute to air pollution and, eventually, global warming. As 

a result, these sources are eco-friendly. Some sources, 

particularly wind and solar power, can provide significant 

economic benefits by bringing power to rural areas where 

transmission lines are lacking. They can also help to stabilize 

energy prices because the price tag of renewable energy is 

highly dependent on invested capital rather than the 

increasing or decreasing cost of fossil fuels. Renewable 

energy sources provide much more consistent power. This is 

as a result of the fact that wind turbines and solar panels are 

widely distributed and modular, respectively. This means that 

even if some equipment fails, the rest can continue to function 

normally and provide power to consumers. Last but not least, 

the renewable energy sector can employ many people 

because there is still a lot of wind, biomass, and solar potential 

to be explored globally, including in Pakistan [5]. Solar is the 

most adequate renewable energy source on almost all 

Philippine islands, despite some islands having relatively low 

potentials or high space constraints. Wind resources are only 

available in varying degrees of feasibility on a few islands. 

Combining the physical, socioeconomic, and energy potential 

characteristics for the majority of sample islands, solar 

photovoltaic-battery systems may be deemed a viable 

backbone for energy systems with different wind power 

capabilities [6]. 

Renewable energy is among the most important steps 

you can take to reduce your environmental impact. Reliable 

power resources and fuel variety provided by renewable 

energy improve renewable sources, reduce the likelihood of 

fuel leaks and reduce the need for imported fuels. Renewable 

energy as the most recent and advanced form of energy also 

helps to conserve the nation's natural resources. Electricity 

can be generated from renewable energy sources with less 

environmental impact. Carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary 

cause of greenhouse gas emissions, can possibly be 

minimized by generating electricity from renewable sources. 

Furthermore, renewable energy reduces the effects of coal 

mining and gas extraction, hazardous pollution, toxic 

accumulation in our air and water, and debris. The Supreme 

Council of Energy has announced a determined plan to 

generate 20% of Egypt's total energy demands from 

renewable sources by 2020. Renewable solar energy sources 

in Egypt can play a very useful role in combating the energy 

shortage [7]. This study aims to identify and assess the use of 

renewable energy for an off-grid photovoltaic system in 

small-scale desalination units, with the objective of reducing 

water demand in a manner that is environmentally friendly. 

The world's solar energy map can be seen in Figure 1. This 

explains how solar energy can be harnessed and converted 

into a renewable energy source for global electric power 

solutions. 

 

 



H. Gökçekuş et al. /Future Technology                                                                                November 2022| Volume 01 | Issue 03 | Pages 26-43 

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2. Literature review 

2.1 Objectives 

The main goal of this section is to compare different 

articles of economic analysis of an off-grid solar PV system for 

small-scale desalination units to: 

• Identify the economics of an off-grid solar PV system for 

the desalination unit  

• Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of desalination using an 

off-grid solar PV system 

• Determine the benefit of using off-grid solar PV for 

desalination units. 

 

Figure 1. Global solar atlas 

 

Different studies have been done on the economic 

analysis of renewable energy as a viable solution for 

desalination units. Thus, this section summarizes the main 

findings from these articles. Fadhila et al. demonstrated the 

viability of a photovoltaic grid-connected system for 

electrifying a seawater desalination plant. The findings 

revealed an interest in the hybrid system as a key solution to 

the electrification-generation process for an Algerian 

desalination plant. The optimal hybrid PV-grid-connected 

system configuration produced 3,054.32 MWh/year of PV 

power, accounting for 67 percent of the renewable fraction. 

Furthermore, the system met 100 percent of the primary 

charge and returned to the grid more than the purchased 

electricity, with an estimated annual income of $199,114/y 

from electricity sold to the grid [8]. Photovoltaic electricity 

prices have fallen dramatically in the last five years to levels 

comparable to unsubsidized electricity rates in areas of high 

solar irradiation in the Middle East and other arid regions 

where water desalination capacity needs to be expanded. 

When both the direct and fuel subsidy costs of electricity 

generation are considered, our analysis shows that using PV 

to power RO desalination plants results in significant cost 

savings. Thus, by implementing PV-powered desalination 

plants, freshwater demand in arid and sunny regions could be 

met cost-effectively while reducing air pollution caused by 

combustion [9]. According to Huseyin Oner, the PV/SWRO 

system appears to be one of the fastest evolving technologies 

in our analysis due to its feasibility and economies of scale in 

the production of both PV cells and desalination membranes. 

The findings of this thesis demonstrate that solar desalination 

is feasible and profitable in areas with limited water 

resources. Small PV/SWRO plants are expected to become 

cheaper than Grid/SWRO plants in the future, allowing every 

country with seawater and solar energy to use this technology 

to meet rising water demand [10]. The cost of PV-powered 

water pumping and desalination has been considerably 

lowered compared to prior studies due to the utilization of 

bigger system sizes, system optimization, and low-energy 

membranes. Only crops with high yields, relatively low water 

requirements, and optimal sites with shallow groundwater 

depths, low salt feed water, and strong solar irradiation were 

found to be lucrative for PV water pumping and desalination 

[11]. Rômulo de Oliveira Azevêdo et al. found that economic 

viability cannot be based just on lowering capital expenses, 

but also on lowering operating and maintenance costs and 

expanding electricity generating capacity. Brunini et al. 

observed that while the PV system had a greater initial cost 

than the others, the yearly cost of power was zero, 

demonstrating a superior efficiency in energy generation of 

this system in comparison to other sources [12]. Energy costs, 

which make up a majority of the cost of desalination and 

represent more than 30% of the total cost, determine the 

economics of using renewable energy sources in desalination. 

According to feasibility studies carried out by researchers or 

developers in Egypt, the cost of conventional desalination 

based on fossil fuels is still lower than the cost of desalination 

using renewable energy. However, the cost of renewable 

energy technologies is fast declining, and in distant areas 

where the cost of energy transmission and distribution 

exceeds the cost of distributed generation, renewable energy-

based desalination can compete with conventional 

desalination [13]. Solar thermal desalination technology 

might be a potential solution to the world's mounting water 

problems. The economics of solar desalination, on the other 

hand, is determined by a number of factors, including but not 

limited to the cost of water, the cost of grid energy, and the 

efficiency of each component (solar collector, desalination 

subsystem, etc.) [14].  

The product flow rate and the salinity of feed water 

appreciably affected the specific energy consumption [15]. 

The research revealed that utilizing wind to power a 

desalination facility is economically advantageous at 145 of 

the 193 sites, while using solar is preferred at the other 48. 

Although both solar and wind resources are abundant in 

Texas, wind's extremely high-capacity factors over much of 

the state allow wind to offer the lowest-cost power [16]. The 

findings of this study support the use of reverse osmosis (RO) 

technology in conjunction with solar Photovoltaic (PV) units 

as an economically viable option for brackish water 

desalination. Obtaining economic data has revealed that the 

RO-PV system is a cost-effective desalination option to use 

[17]. According to the American Society of Mechanical 

Engineers, for off-grid systems, solar photovoltaic powered 

electrodialysis (PV-ED) has been justified as a more cost-

effective alternative than the present dominant reverse 

osmosis technology. The system was designed to produce 

potable water cost-effectively using off-shelf components and 

has been operating since early 2017 with some downtime. In 

India, the rapid drop-off in the cost of renewable energy 

generation and the increased awareness of environmental 

sustainability have led many to explore photovoltaic-RO (PV-

RO) desalination in many countries which have freshwater 

shortages [18]. RO systems that are powered by PV panels 

provide a number of benefits, including low operational costs, 

ease of operation, environmental friendliness, high reliability, 



H. Gökçekuş et al. /Future Technology                                                                                November 2022| Volume 01 | Issue 03 | Pages 26-43 

29 

 

simplicity of installation and maintenance, and suitability for 

use with brackish water [19]. Previous studies related to this 

topic have been listed in Table 1 (Appendix). 

3. Designing a desalination unit 

This section discusses briefly the factors for designing a 

desalination unit powered by renewable energy and also how 

the plant is designed. 

3.1 Water Demand 

Half a billion people live in water-stressed or water-

scarce countries, and that number is expected to rise to three 

billion by 2025 due to population growth. Population and 

income growth will drive up demand for irrigation water to 

meet food production needs as well as household and 

industrial demand [46].  Drought is currently a widespread 

phenomenon around the world. Drought has hit many 

isolated areas in Greece, particularly the Aegean islands [47]. 

The problem worsens in the summer when tourism increases 

water demand by up to 4-5 times that of the winter. Most 

islands' existing water stocks cannot meet such rising 

demand; thus, the problem must be addressed with long-term 

and viable solutions. As a result, seawater desalination can 

play an important role in a long-term solution to the problem 

[48]. Hence, helping ease water scarcity is one of the driving 

factors for designing a desalination unit. 

3.2 Energy 

The need for generating energy to power the 

desalination unit has environmental impact targets as a result 

of the effects of climate change, such as the emission of 

greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, this has been one of 

the factors for the need to adopt alternative energy sources 

capable of meeting demand while causing minimal 

environmental damage around the world. As such, designing 

a desalination unit powered by renewable energy. Renewable 

energy is a significant alternative energy source as well as a 

readily available source of clean energy. 

3.3 Plant design 

Below is a block diagram (Figure 2) of a proposed water 

desalination plant that combines PVT and RO technology. It is 

assumed that the feed water source is a brackish water 

reservoir. This source is sufficiently large to provide a 

constant mass flow to the system, a portion of which flows 

through the PVT array to gain thermal energy and reduce the 

PV cell temperature in the array.  

 

Figure 2. Diagram for PVT- and RO-based technology 

system for water desalination plant (T refer to thermal and E 

refer to electrical energy). 

The PVT array tilts to track the sun's path. At night or 

when the air temperature is too low, the feedwater is routed 

around the PVT array to prevent heat loss. To maximize the 

benefit of acquired thermal energy over time, a thermal 

storage tank with a fixed volume is utilized. If the temperature 

in the storage tank falls below a certain minimum threshold, 

supplementary heating is available. As a result of its lower 

viscosity, the heated water stored in the tank provides a 

constant flow to the RO, and its higher temperature reduces 

the electrical power requirements of the system's various 

pumps. On the electrical side of the system, the PVT array 

provides as much electrical power as possible for pumping 

needs. The system stores excess electricity generated during 

the day in a battery for use at night. After the battery is 

depleted, the remaining electrical needs are met by grid 

power, particularly in the early morning hours [49].  

3.4 The energyergy required for desalination plants 

powered by solar energy 

Antonyan examined two major parts to better 

understand the energy requirements for solar-powered 

desalination plants (membrane and thermal technologies). 

Membrane methods use approximately five times less energy 

than thermal methods. As a result, it is more cost-effective to 

combine renewable energy sources with membrane 

technologies rather than thermal ones. Solar energy is mostly 

combined with brackish water RO, seawater RO, and brackish 

water ED. However, some MED desalination plants are still 

powered by solar energy. The energy consumption of these 

plants ranges from 18.2 to 25.8 KWh/m3. The energy demand 

of brackish water RO ranges between 0.9 and 29.1 KWh/m3. 

There is a wide range of energy requirements, which is highly 

dependent on the capacity of the desalination plant, which 

can range from 100 m3/day to several hundred m3/day. The 

total average energy consumption, however, is 10.2 KW h/m3. 

The energy demand for seawater RO is also given in a wide 

range, ranging from 2.4 to 17.9 KW h/m3, with an average 

energy consumption of 5.5 KW h/m3. According to the study, 

brackish water ED has the lowest energy demand ranging 

from 0.8 to 3.2 KW h/m3, with an average energy 

consumption of 2 KW H/m3[50]. 

4. Discussion 

In this section, we will look at the main findings from 

previous studies conducted and also the objectives of these 

studies. From the different findings, a few problems with off-

grid solar PV for desalination were observed during the study. 

These problems are discussed below: 

The major problems facing desalination using off-grid PV 

are climate conditions and the initial cost of implementing the 

PV for desalination. First, we need to understand the full term 

of climate, which is a long-term weather pattern of an area, 

location, or region, typically an average of 30 years. In this 

meaning, using the off-grid for desalination, the term climate 

factor needs to be considered, between winter and summer. 

Where there is extreme and high-temperature weather 

favored more for using off-grid. But in a location where there 

is low temperature, no excess of energy or required energy is 

expected to manage the solar PV. However, most of the 

problems associated with climate and off-grid solar PV for 

desalination are during winter when energy is not abundant, 

which sometimes cannot operate the reverse osmosis to 



H. Gökçekuş et al. /Future Technology                                                                                November 2022| Volume 01 | Issue 03 | Pages 26-43 

30 

 

function in pressuring water. Moreover, the installation of the 

off-grid Solar PV is costly (expensive). Many of the isolated 

villages cannot afford off-grid solar PV installation. And also, 

there are a lot of technical issues, there is always a need for 

proper maintenance. Ironically, the majority of water-

stressed areas are also energy-stressed. In some 

circumstances, the expense of adding grid electricity may be 

too expensive. The difficulty is magnified in rural/remote 

areas such as highlands and islands. 

4.1 Solution 

The findings determined the kind of solution desired; 

meanwhile, there are different problems that required 

different solutions for off-grid solar PV systems for 

desalination units. However, the solution may vary depending 

on the location. In some locations where water is being 

transported from a distant city, and the climate condition is 

favorable, the use of an off-grid solar PV system for 

desalination will be in consideration. Solar requires energy 

from the sun, and the energy that comes from the sun is clean 

energy, to that fact, the solution for using off-grid solar 

desalination depends on this basis, without batteries, solar-

powered reverse osmosis is the best aspect that is available 

when needed of the day. Off-grid reverse osmosis technology 

directly uses solar, wind, or wave energy, using the natural 

force of gravity, the reverse osmosis process receives its 

required feed: pressurized seawater. It ensured that the salt 

water cache always contains water for constant fresh water 

production. In some aspects, the use of off-grid solar PV for 

desalination can generate water of 10L/h, using a solar off-

grid costs less than electricity since energy is stored in a 

battery. Moreover, it is an abundant and free source of clean 

energy on the planet. Since it requires energy from the sun for 

reverse osmosis power, in summer, more energy is expected, 

and it gives freely more than enough/required for 

desalination. Despite the fact that using off-grid solar PV will 

have more environmental significance since it has zero 

carbon emission and also has no effect on the environment. It 

is considered to be environmentally friendly. Small plants for 

remote consumers in areas where there is no electrical 

network and population density is low. PV panels will be used 

to provide electricity to power reverse osmosis system 

pumps. 

5. Conclusion  

In Conclusion, an off-grid solar PV system for small-scale 

desalination units is a cost-effective solution for the 

environment this is because generating energy from the sun 

does not have any environmental impacts, and it reduces air 

pollution. Also, when the implementation cost and the 

operation cost of this system are compared to that of the 

traditional system for generating energy, the solar PV system 

cost less while the traditional systems are more expensive to 

work with because of the large amount of capital that it 

requires for electricity. Furthermore, a solar PV-powered 

system has more advantages than any, which can be seen 

widely as the system doesn’t run out, unlike fossil fuel, also 

the absence of harmful gases, i.e. environmentally friendly 

than other sources of energy. However, it is also cost-effective 

and has less pollution. According to the majority of these 

articles, the cost of PV-powered systems has decreased over 

time, making them less expensive as compared to the early 

stages of transforming to solar PV systems for desalination 

units. Consequently, this system can be used especially in 

rural areas where freshwater availability is inadequate. It will 

be placed on the site to desalinate the water to be free of 

harmful substances and meet the demand of the populace. In 

this reviewed study, using off-grid solar PV for small-scale 

desalination is recommended. However, for which 

photovoltaic-battery systems would be the favorable 

backbone of a future energy system based on renewable 

energies it was considered to be environmentally friendly and 

cost-effective. In the prospect of the reviewed research, it will 

be the most used technology and economically accessible 

alternative. It was also recommended for the cost and the use 

of it in the future as it will solve many future challenges. The 

climate condition of the location should be studied over a long 

time period to know whether the climate condition will be 

favorable to power the off-grid solar PV for desalination. 

Ethical issue 
The authors are aware of and comply with best practices 

in publication ethics, specifically with regard to authorship 
(avoidance of guest authorship), dual submission, 
manipulation of figures, competing interests, and compliance 
with policies on research ethics. The authors adhere to 
publication requirements that the submitted work is original 
and has not been published elsewhere. 

Data availability statement 
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets 

were generated or analyzed during the current study. 

Conflict of interest 

The author declares no potential conflict of interest. 

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33 

 

Appendix I 

 

Table 1. List of previous studies 

 
Ref. Year Location Aim Method Data Main Findings 

[7]  2015 Egypt This study defines  
the main economic 
parameters used in the 
estimation of desalination 
costs and limitation of the 
stand-alone, small-size 
SWRO plants powered by 
photovoltaic (PV) at the 
northwest coast of Egypt. 
Moreover, a techno-
economic study is made to 
estimate the actual cost of 
m3 /freshwater 
production on real field 
measurements. 

Modeling Software 
(HOMER Energy LLC) 
was used in conjunction 
with Desalination 
Economic Evaluation 
Program 4.0 
(International Atomic 
Energy Agency) 
desalination software to 
examine the techno 

water, All cost 
estimations will be 
based on the 
prevailing prices 
during 
2012–2013 and 
with the exchange 
rate of about 6.75 
Egyptian Pound 
(LE) for US$1. 

In the future, the use of nuclear or 
renewable energy for desalination 
may be cost-effective. The cost of 
desalination using the PV/RO 
system battery-less is 9.3–5.6 
LE/m3. The investment cost 
present 87.9% of the total project 
cost; the operation and 
maintenance cost present 12% of 
the total project cost. The cost of a 
water unit can 
decrease dramatically if we use 
conventional sources of energy; 
however, even at this level of cost, 
the PV/RO system could provide 
the necessary quantities of potable 
water for a small zone, like the 
area selected in the northwestern 
coastal, at a cost not far from that 
of water hauling. 



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34 

 

[8]  2019 Algeria To demonstrate how a 
reverse osmosis 
desalination system 
coupled to a solar system 
connected to the grid 
(hybrid PV-Grid) may be a 
sustainable choice for 
meeting Algeria's and the 
world's rising fresh water 
needs. 

The research 
methodology (economic 
modelling) 

In the first phase, 
research data such 
as determining local 
meteorological 
resources and 
estimating the 
electrical demand 
for the RO unit 
were collected. The 
second phase 
included modeling 
of the PV 
generation 
subsystem using 
the HOMER 
software based on 
input parameters 
(technical and 
economic 
parameters of the 
system 
components), Load 
profile, weather 
data, and 
limitations 
parameters). The 
energy balance 
criteria (EB), net 
present cost (NPC), 
and levelized cost of 
energy are used in 
the third phase 
(COE) 

The findings revealed an interest 
in the hybrid system as a 
significant option in the 
electrification-generation process 
for an Algerian desalination plant. 
The ideal hybrid PV-grid-
connected system design 
produced 3,054.32 MWh/year of 
PV power, which accounts for 67% 
of the renewable component 
According to the findings, global 
solar radiation is the most 
impactful variable on energy costs, 
PV production, and grid sales. It is 
obvious that this option is 
technically and economically 
sound, and environmentally 
suitable for small and medium-
sized marine plants, but 
troublesome for giant plants 

 

 
[9]  2016 Saudi Arabia This paper presents up-

to-date performance and 
cost analysis of reverse 
osmosis (RO) desalination 
powered with PV 
connected to the Saud 

Modeling Software 
(HOMER Energy LLC) 
was used in conjunction 
with Desalination 
Economic Evaluation 
Program 4.0 
(International Atomic 
Energy Agency) 
desalination software to 
examine the techno 

CPV is $0.16/kWh, 
whereas that from 
CdTe PV is 
$0.10/kWh and 
$0.09/kWh for 
fixed-tilt and one-
axis tracking 
systems 

we infer that there are great 
business prospects associated 
with large deployment of PV-RO 
plantsin the greater Middle East, 
and we estimate the reduction in 
regional CO2 emissions from such 
deployment.  

 



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35 

 

[10]  2019 Northern 
Cyprus 

to research and debate 
solar-powered seawater 
desalination as an 
alternative option for the 
Water Supply Project in 
order to deliver the same 
quantity of water yearly 
to the region by utilizing 
the island's sun energy 
potential and available 
desalination technology. 

Economic Feasibility, 
data acquisition 

RET Screen energy 
project modeling 
software for 
generator and grid 
calculations, LCOE, 
Microsoft Excel, 
NREL SAM, and 
RETScreen 4 
renewable energy 
project evaluation 
software for CSP, 
PV, and Wind 
systems. 

In the study, the PV/SWRO system 
appears to be one of the quickest 
emerging technologies due to the 
practicality and economies of scale 
in the manufacture of both PV cells 
and desalination membranes. The 
findings of this thesis demonstrate 
that solar desalination is practical 
and profitable in areas with 
limited water supplies. Small 
PV/SWRO facilities are predicted 
to become cheaper than 
Grid/SWRO plants in the future, 
allowing every country with 
seawater to benefit. and solar 
energy would use this technology 
to meet increasing water demand.  

 

[11]  2015 Jordan and 
Palestine. 

This research offers a 
complete assessment of 
medium to large-scale 
variable speed PV 
pumping and desalination 
systems. System 
performance is evaluated 
using hourly simulations 
over the course of a year. 
Simulating a wide range 
of system topologies, 
including three types of 
power supply, yields 
optimal system 
configuration There are 
four different inverter 
configurations, four 
different membrane 
types, two different RO 
system recovery rates, 
and energy recovery 
device possibilities. Crop 
salt tolerance, water 
needs, yields, and net 
profits are among the 
agricultural criteria used 
to determine crops most 
suitable for desalination 
in agriculture. An 
economic analysis is 
performed to determine 
water unit pumping and 
desalination costs, return 
on investment, internal 
rate of return, payback 
periods, and total lifetime 
costs. 

Simulations, System 
Modelling and MATLAB, 
Economic analysis 

Primary economic 
indicators such as 
the water unit 
desalination cost 
(WUDC), water unit 
pumping cost 
(WUPC), and total 
water unit cost 
(TWUC) were used 
to evaluate and 
optimize the design 
of the system. 

The cost of PV-powered water 
pumping and desalination has 
been greatly reduced compared to 
previous research due to the use of 
larger system sizes, system 
optimization and low-energy 
membranes. The use of PV water 
pumping and desalination for 
agriculture was found tobe 
profitable only for crops with high 
returns, fairly low water 
requirements, andideal locations 
with shallow groundwater depths, 
low salinity feed water and 
highsolar irradiation.  

 



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36 

 

[12]  2020 
 

The goal of this study is to 
give a systematic 
analytical framework for 
identifying and analyzing 
the primary parameters 
that influence the 
financial feasibility of 
solar energy plant 
construction projects. 

Research Articles It was determined that economic 
feasibility cannot be determined 
just by lowering capital expenses, 
but also by lowering operating and 
maintenance costs and boosting 
power generating capacity. 
Brunini et al. observed that while 
the PV system had a greater initial 
cost than the others, the yearly 
cost of power was zero, 
demonstrating a superior 
efficiency in energy generation of 
this system in comparison to other 
sources. 

 

[13]  2020 Abu Dhabi   The primary goal of this 
research is to 
demonstrate and assess 
the feasibility of using 
solar energy to power a 
RO system using 
photovoltaic cells (PVC) to 
desalinate either brackish 
or saline groundwater 
pumped from shallow 
groundwater aquifer 
systems in the western 
region of Abu Dhabi 
Emirate, with salinities 
ranging from 5,000 to 
20,000 ppm. 

Simulation, Economic 
analysis 

IMSDesign 
software, the initial 
cost of the PV 
system is 
consideredin this 
research. 

PVsyst findings revealed that 
during a working time of 10 hours 
with batteries, the PV panels will 
deliver enough energy in all 
seasons. In the summer, though, 
the panels will offer more energy 
than the load. 

 

[14]  2020 7 Coastal 
cities in the 
United 
States 

To create a 
technoeconomic model 
that evaluates the 
feasibility of combining 
solar collectors with 
thermal desalination 
systems. The techno-
economic model seeks to 
forecast the economics of 
a multi-stage solar flash 
distillation system. 

Economic analysis   (the 
National Renewable 
Energy Laboratory’s 
(NREL)HOMER 
software was used), 
Simulation 

Cost of solar 
collectors per unit 
area, typical cost of 
photovoltaic 
modules 

Solar thermal desalination 
technology might be a potential 
solution to the world's mounting 
water problems. The economics of 
solar desalination, on the other 
hand, are determined by a number 
of factors, including but not 
limited to the cost of water, the 
cost of grid energy, and the 
efficiency of each component 
(solar collector, desalination 
subsystem, etc.). 

 

 

 



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37 

 

[15]  2015 Alamogordo, 
New Mexico 

To investigate the techno-
economic feasibility of 
using renewable energy to 
power distant, rural 
desalination facilities. 

qualitative research  Constant 896.24 
83.68 10.71 <0.01 

The product flow rate and the 
salinity of feed water significantly 
affected the specific energy 
consumption 

 

Flow rate 10.09 
3.27 3.08 <0.01 

 

Temperature 2.49 
2.27 1.10 0.28 

 

Conductivity 0.56 
0.02 30.88 <0.01 

 

R-squared 94.04% 
F-statistic 357.73 

 

Adjusted R-squared 
93.7% Prob (F-
statistic) 0.00 

 

Predicted R-
squared 93.17% 
Number of 
observations 

 

[16]  2019  Texas, 
United state. 

To assess the technical 
and economic viability of 
using these renewable 
forms of energy to power 
desali-nation facilities. 

Quantitative analysis $24.61/kgal and 
$7.38/kgal when 
powered by solar 
PV and wind 
respectively 

The analysis showed that using 
wind to power a desalination 
facility is economically preferable 
at 145 of the 193 sites; solar was 
preferable at the remaining 48 
sites. Solar and wind resources are 
both abundant in Texas; however, 
the particularly high capacity 
factors for wind across much of 
the state helps wind deliver the 
lowest cost electricity. 

 

[17]  2018 Jordan  investigates the feasibility 
of using solar energy 
coupled 
to reverse osmosis (RO) 
units for the desalination 
of brackish water 

data were processed 
and categorized 
using Excel software 
package, and then 
inserted into GIS 
software 

The average 
desalination cost 
for the produced 
water is calculated 
at US$0.183/m3 
 compared to 
US$0.346 /m3 
where the produced 
water costs can 
reach US$ 
0.314 /m3 
 compared to US$ 
0.105 /m3 

The results obtained in this study 
favour the usage of reverse 
osmosis (RO) technology coupled 
with solar Photovoltaic (PV) units 
as an economically feasible 
alternative for brackish 
water desalinationObtained 
economic data showed that RO-PV 
system is an economical feasible 
desalination 
alternative 

 



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38 

 

[18]  2018 South India To present preliminary 
results from an ongoing 
field pilot of a village-scale 
PV-ED system in Chelluru, 
which is a small village in 
South India. 

Simulation Preliminary data, 
Experimental data 

Solar photovoltaic powered 
electrodialysis (PV-ED) has been 
justified as a more cost-effective 
alternative for off-grid systems 
than the present dominant reverse 
osmosis technology. The system 
was designed to produce potable 
water cost-effectively using off-
shelf components and has been 
operating since early 2017 with 
some downtime. Including India, 
the rapid decrease in the cost of 
renewable energy generation and 
the increased awareness of 
environmental sustainability have 
led many to explore photovoltaic-
RO (PV-RO) desalination in many 
countries which have freshwater 
shortages 

 

[19]  2016 Babil, south 
Iraq 

To estimate an optimum 
PV system to power the 
RO that produces 20 l/h 
(0.35 M3/day ) at 
constant daily load 
profile. 

quantitative and 
simulation 

=(3120 
*0.8*0.85)/(1350.8) 
= 1.58 day = 38 h 

The RO systems powered by PV 
panels have many advantages, 
such as lowest operation cost , 
simple operation , 
environmentally friendly , easy 
installation and maintenance, high 
reliability and suitability for 
brackish water. 

 

[20]  2020 Saudi Arabia To investigate the 
feasibility of combining 
Saudi Arabia's existing 
thermal and membrane 
desalination facilities with 
various solar energy 
technologies, such as 
concentrated solar power 
and photovoltaic, in order 
to generate drinkable 
water while remaining 
economically viable. 

Analytic Process and 
Practical process 

Pilot plant, PT, 
CRT,LFR 

Combining a MED thermal 
desalination plant with technology 
and running them without thermal 
energy storage found to be more 
cost-effective under specified 
climatic conditions.. 

 

[21]  2016 Myanmar This study focuses on the 
problems of shifting from 
a country with limited 
access to electricity to a 
renewable energy-based 
economy reinforced by 
photovoltaics (PV). We 
investigate the viability of 
PV-powered desalination 
systems for the 
Ayeyarwady and 
Tanintharyi regions based 
on optimization modeling 
and analyses of 
Myanmar's present 
energy constraints. 

economic modelling  price of water for 
economic 
sustainability 
should be 
approximately 
US$0.0224/litre 

According to a review of the 
technical and economic viability of 
a standalone solar-powered 
desalination plant, the required 
water price for economic 
sustainability should be around 
US$0.0224/litre. According to our 
economic modeling, the biggest 
capital cost is the installation of PV 
and maintenance.  



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39 

 

[22]  2019 Abu Dhabi 
(UAE), and 
Perth (AUS), 

The aim of generating 
electricity at low cost and 
in a sustainable way 

Economic research, A 
thorough mathematical 
model for the PV system 
was created using 
information from the 
literature. Surprisingly, 
the model can forecast 
the cost of a PV system 
in terms of capital cost 
and energy cost per 
kWh based on input 
data such as solar 
irradiation, daylight 
duration, and technical 
specifications of an 
actual solar module 

input data of solar 
irradiation, 
duration of daylight 
and technical 
specification of a 
real solar module 

The planned solar farm should be 
placed in a bright and well-lit 
position to reach an electricity cost 
of 0.1 €/kWh or less and to 
compete with the cost of power 
from other sources. The suggested 
model's cost is consistent with the 
International Renewable Energy 
Agency's (IRENA) 16 most current 
estimates for solar power costs, 
which range from 0.05 to > 0.20 
USD/kWh depending on area. The 
IRENA research provides for a 
comparison with Mohammed bin 
Rashid Al Maktoum's current and 
cost-competitive solar park in the 
UAE, which has a projected 
capacity of 1 GW for 2020 and will 
be able to generate power for 5.85 
USD/kWh (IRENA, 2016) 

 

[23]  2017 USA The purpose of this article 
is to analyze the total 
returns for investors that 
invest primarily in PV and 
ES-based PV systems 
using a return on 
investment (ROI) 
economic analysis. 

economic analysis A 
Microsoft Excel tool is 
provided for 
computation of the ROI 

(1) a home without 
a PV system or an 
ES 

A 7kW PV system without ES is the 
most cost 

 

[24]  2019 Saudi Arabia  This dissertation 
illustrates the big picture 
of the Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia regarding the 
current status of power 
generation, consumption, 
and the expected increase 
in power demand & 
supply, as well as 
availability and 
assessment of the most 
effective renewable 
energy resources 

a techno-economic 
analysis of a 
gridconnected solar PV-
wind hybrid system, 
Simulation 

the duration of the 
project Capital costs 

A 7kW PV system without ES is the 
most cost 

 

[25]  2016 South India This paper carries out a 
techno-economic analysis 
of various sizing 
combinations of systems 
with solar photo voltaic, 
wind energy and stored 
energy in batteries for 
production of drinking 
water from a brackish 
water source. 

Simulation, Economic 
analysis 

Online Solar 
Radiation Meter, 
meteorological data 

From the results obtained by 
simulation, we can see that 
addition of capacities of PV panels 
or wind turbines or storage 
capacities does not help in 
reduction of the cost of energy. 
But, when the capacities are 
supplemented with solar PV and 
wind turbines, we find that we are 
able to meet the load requirements 
at lower energy costs. This is 
mainly because of the fact that 
when there is no solar insolation 
after day hours, the wind gets 
stronger. This complements each 
other and supplies energy at lower 
costs. 

 



H. Gökçekuş et al. /Future Technology                                                                                November 2022| Volume 01 | Issue 03 | Pages 26-43 

40 

 

[26]  2016 Saudi Arabia To introduce the 
KAPSARC Cost Calculator 
for estimating the efficacy 
of using solar power as an 
energy source for 
desalination. 

Comparative The costs of four 
different solar-
powered 
desalination 
techniques are 
compared 
withthree baseline 
scenarios: RO grid-
powered, MSF 
cogeneration and 
MED cogeneration 

The findings show that Saudi 
Arabia's present policy of adopting 
thermal desalination technology 
only makes economic sense with 
the current regulated fuel prices. 
Raising fuel prices to market levels 
will encourage the use of more 
energy-efficient RO, lowering the 
total primary energy used for 
desalination. 

 

[27]  2021 Australia In order to create a case 
study for Winton in 
Queensland, we 
incorporated relevant 
meteorological data in our 
simulations. Furthermore, 
the research investigates 
the viability of including a 
thermal desalination 
technique that uses waste 
heat from the power block 
to produce clean water 
from wastewater. Finally, 
this paper investigates the 
optimal ratio of 
concentrated solar 
thermal and photovoltaic 
power generation in 
terms of Levelized Cost of 
electricity and water 
production. 

Simulation, Economic 
analysis 

Meteorological 
data, cost of 
electricity, cost of 
renewable energy 

After comparing the LCOEs of the 
CST system and the hybrid PV + 
CST system, it was determined 
that the hybrid system is more 
convenient, attaining a lower LCOE 
due to the cheap cost of power 
generation by PV technology 
without batteries. Although PV 
power generation is less 
expensive, the lack of batteries 
restricts maximum PV production 
to 30% of total system electricity 
generation. The optimum power 
generation ratios are 27.5% and 
72.5% by PV and CST systems, 
respectively; it essentially has the 
same LCOE as employing a greater 
PV electricity output, but it creates 
more clean water due to the 
additional CST system operation. 

 

[28]  2015 Faisalabad, 
Pakistan 

To assess the design and 
economics of an off-grid 
PV system using the life 
cycle cost technique to 
deliver the needed 
electrical energy for a 
modest family residence 
in the climatic conditions. 

The economics 
evaluation using life 
cycle cost (LCC) analysis 
of the complete system 
has also been carried 
out 

14.8 kW cycle cost 
and unit electricity 
cost have also been 
calculated to be 
PKR. 31,963 

They conclude that the unit cost of 
power generated by an off-grid PV 
system is cheaper than the unit 
cost of regular grid electricity 
supplied to residential areas. 

 

[29]  2019 Tripoli, 
Libya 

 The purpose of this study 
is to determine the 
economic feasibility of a 
100 m3/day saltwater 
reverse osmosis 
desalination facility. 

Quantitative Analysis  Desalination using 
the PV-RO system 
cost 7.77 €/m3, 
whereas the RO-
Solar Rankine 
system cost up to 
12.53 €/m3.  

Economic research revealed that 
employing an On-Grid PV power 
system to power the facility had 
the optimum benefit-cost ratio in 
both monetary and environmental 
aspects. Compared to either using 
Grid or Off-Grid PV 

 

[30]  2017 Dhahran, 
Saudi Arabia 

To perform an economic 
and environmental 
feasibility study of 
switching theelectrical 
power supply of a small 
building from electrical 
grid into renewable 
energy provided by solar 
photovoltaic module 

Quantitative Analysis   4 cents/kWh to 8 
cents/kWh on the 
viability of the 
proposed PV 
systems was 
evaluated 

there were three scenarios 
considered in the findings. The 
emission of GHG will be in 
reduction by 50%. 

 



H. Gökçekuş et al. /Future Technology                                                                                November 2022| Volume 01 | Issue 03 | Pages 26-43 

41 

 

[31]  2020 Iran To find an optimal 
configuration that can 
meet the electricity 
demand and be 
satisfactory from both an 
economic and 
environmental point of 
view 

Quantitative analysis 
usingHOMER software 
simulation criteria and 
MCDM (multi-criteria 
decision making) 
methods. 

 cost of energy for a 
standalone system 
with a reformer 
was calculated to be 
0.164 to 0.233 
$/kWh, while the 
on-grid system cost 
of energy was 
0.096e0.125 
$/kWh. 

Using solar, wind, and biogas is the 
most affordable method and 
adding fuel cell to this 
configuration would increase, 

 

[32]  2018 Gwakwani, 
South Africa. 

 To present an optimal 
hybrid energy system to 
meet the electrical 
demand in a reliable and 
sustainable manner for an 
off-grid remote village. 

quantitative analysis were  1, 0.8, 0.6 and 
0.4 kW 

Based on this research analysis 
both battery and diesel generator 
systems achieved the same 
objective function of backing up 
the PV system at periods of supply 
shortages 

 

[33]  2017 Masirah 
island, 
Oman. 

To investigate the 
technical and economic 
feasibility of a 
hybridenergy system 
integrated to the existing 
diesel off-grid/isolated 
power system  

qualitative analysis  capacity of 20.3 
MW with net 
available capacity of 
16.7 MW 

The finding shows diesel, solar PV 
and wind generator hybrid system 
presented the most economic 
viable hybrid system  

[34]  2020 Xining, 
China 

proposes on a technical 
and economic evaluation 
of a stand-alone wind-fuel 
cell (FC)-battery hybrid 
energy system for a 
residential house  

 Description of the 
simulation tool, Site 
description, and load 
data,  System 
configuration, and 
System components. 

The optimal 
PV/battery/FC 
system has an 
initial cost of 
$6,763,000, an 
annual operating 
cost of $82,312/yr, 
a total NPC of 
$7,815,223, and a 
levelized COE of 
$1.553/kWh. 

It is observed that the optimal 
wind-battery hybrid system is 
more economical than the wind-
FC-battery system.the most 
economically feasible system is the 
wind-FC-battery hybrid system. 
However, when the FC capital cost 
multiplier value is greater than 
0.7, the wind-battery system is the 
most economically feasible one. 

 

[35]  2011 kualaperlis, 
Malaysia 

presents the 
optimizationdesign of 
photovoltaic power 
system for desalination 
process ofseawater , 
reliableand low power 
consumption of 
distillation process is 
selected forthis off-grid 
power system. 

Quantitative analysis The load demand is 
constant 
throughout the year 
at 19.2 kWh/day, 
system output can 
generate at least 
19.431 kWh/day  

to benefit rural areas where are 
still lacking of fresh water supply. 
It will develop to increase thethe 
efficiency of this system and 
reduce its operating cost  

[36]  2020 Morocco It assesses the conditions 
at which solar 
Photovoltaics (PV) and 
Concentrated Solar Power 
(CSP) would be 
competitive with a grid 
(mainly fossil) driven 
desalination plant. 

literature review ( 
simple model that 
assesses 
the final cost of 
desalinated water is 
computed. Second, the 
cost related 
to energy consumption 
is calculated for 
different power supply 
options 
to assess the impact of 
energy provision on the 
final cost of water) 

the calculated LCOS 
is found to be equal 
to 0.3 $/kWh (< 0.5 
$/kWh. 

 To demonstrates at first that 
desalination, with the last up-to-
date technologies, is affordable at 
an acceptable cost of around 1 
$/m3 (range of 0.98 $/m3 and 
1.14 $/m3 
depending on the power supply 
option). In addition, the results 
show that the selling price of 
desalinated water  

 



H. Gökçekuş et al. /Future Technology                                                                                November 2022| Volume 01 | Issue 03 | Pages 26-43 

42 

 

[37]  2019 China to find the optimal 
configuration for an off-
grid, renewable energy 
reverse osmosis 
desalination (RO) system 

Quantitative analysis LCOE 0.527 
USD/kWh and the 
corresponding 
levelized cost of 
water 3.585 
USD/m3 , which 
were about half of 
the 7.9 USD/m3 

photovoltaic panel tilt angle over a 
range from 15° to 40°. The LCOW 
was less than half of the 7.9 
USD/m3  currently paid by 
residents in the area.  

[38]  2019 Abu Dhabi To show how Abu Dhabi 
can implement a 
sustainable desalination 
scheme by looking at the 
recent developments in 
both the desalination and 
energy 

quantitative analysis a Levelized Cost of 
Water (LCW) 
analysis is 
conducted for a 
proposed 90,000 
m3/day 

thermal desalination technologies 
consume at least 10% more fuel 
than RO-based desalination 
technologies. Sustainable 
desalination of seawater regarding 
a clean energy resource and 
economical technology option is a 
must for Abu Dhabi to meet its 
vision 2030 targets 

 

[39]  2018 Turkey To evaluated the 
operations of seven 
different (off-grid) power 
systems (wind-
photovoltaic-diesel-
battery) used to satisfy 
the electrical energy 
demand of a small-scale 
reverse osmosis system 

quantitative analysis The LCOE value for 
the wind system 
with the battery 
defined as case 2 
was calculated to be 
$0.975/kWh 
levelised cost 

analyses indicated that potable 
water production with the 
proposed hybrid power system is 
economically feasible for the site 

 

[40]  2020 Iraq  to investigate the thermo-
fluid aspects of such a 
system with a view to 
ascertain the drivers to 
enhance its thermal 
performance and 
productivity. surface area 
of the concentrated 
energy collector, solar 
intensity, oil tank 
insulation, salinity, water 
depth,mass flow rate and 
connection types between 
the oil tank 

quantitative analysis  8.6 US$/m3, while 
that value reached 
9.74 $/m3 

 Distillate productivity is 
profoundly influenced by the 
operating parameters (salinity, 
HTF flow rate, number of stages) 
and weather conditions (radiation 
intensity, ambient air 
temperature). Optimum flow rate 
of HTF is 1.65 L/min that produces 
the highest distillate 

 

[41]  2002 Egypt  feasibility study of water 
desalination in these 
areas using photovoltaic 
energy as the primary 
source of energy 

thermal and membrane 
process 

the cost of 
producing 1 m3 of 
fresh water using 
the small PV 
powered RO water 
desalination 
systems is 3.73$.  

It is found that the cost of 
producing 1 m3 of fresh water 
using the small PV powered RO 
water desalination systems is 
3.73$. This cost is based on using a 
small system that is operating 
during the daylight only. If the 
system size and the daily period of 
operation are increased, the price 
of producing fresh water will be 
decreased in these regions. 

 

[42]  2020 Brazil To presents the techno-
economic feasibility of 
using small-scale PVRO 
systems 

quantitative analysis At a levelized cost 
ranging from 1.44 
to 1.65 US$/m3 

The model predicts that a 10 
m3/day proposed system capacity 
can produce water at a levelized 
cost ranging from 1.44 to 1.65 
US$/m3. This is enough to sustain 
the basic water needs of 250 
people for 2 days. 

 



H. Gökçekuş et al. /Future Technology                                                                                November 2022| Volume 01 | Issue 03 | Pages 26-43 

43 

 

[43]  2011 Mrair-Gabis, 
Libya 

introduce a cost-effective 
substitute to expensive 
grid extensions in isolated 
areas 

simulation and 
economic estimation 

levelised cost at 
0.25$, 0.5$ and 
0.75$ diesel prices. 
At 0.25$ diesel 
price,  6.7 kWh/m2 
and 4.6kWh/m2 

find that Wind energy on the other 
hand does not seem to be cost-
effective in the sensitivity analysis 
because the wind potential is 
limited, n to the economic and 
practical diesel generator 
drawbacks, considering the diesel 
emissions make the renewable 
options more feasible 

 

[44]  2019 Athens, 
Greece 

to determine the optimum 
technical and economic 
system, by minimizing the 
total system installation 
and operation cost for 20 
years lifetime, which then 
compared in economic 
terms with the water 
transportation practice 

qualitative and 
simulation 

levelised a cost of 
425 €/membrane. 
this cost was 
selected at 0.065 
€/m3 

shows that the application of a 
photovoltaic powered seawater 
reverse osmosis desalination unit 
that incorporates water storage, a 
small capacity battery bank and an 
energy management system, is 
technically feasible to produce 
fresh water  

[45]  2012 Jordan Aims to detail the 
project's photovoltaic 
system design and size, 
highlight some findings 
and measurements, and 
offer a brief economic 
analysis. 

simulation and 
economic estimation 

1000 kg/m3. 9.81 
m/s2. 30 m3 /day 
40 m = 11772000 
Joules/day = 3.27 
kWh/day f 5.5 
kWh/m2  per day 
we retrieve the 
required size of the 
PV array of 11.6 m 

For the provided project, an 
economic analysis has been 
performed. Despite the greater 
initial investment costs, the study 
clearly reveals that PV cells are 
substantially cheaper than diesel 
generators.  

 


