Work

Techno–Enviro–Economic Feasibility Assessment of Family-Scale Solar Still (F-SSS) Desalination Plant in Central American and Caribbean Sites for Sustainable Clean Water Supply

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The viability of the family-scale solar still (F-SSS) desalination plant in nine low- and middle-income Central American and Caribbean sites, with improper water treatment facilities and supply networks, has been analyzed and reported in detail. The sizing of the desalination plant was done based on the still’s performance, clean water requirement and solar radiation potential. The still’s performance was estimated using an experimentally validated thermodynamic model. Annual desalinated water productivity per still was about 979.0 L (highest) and 836.0 L (lowest) in Port-au-Prince and Belize City, respectively. The lowest and highest potable water production price was observed in Havana (19.75 to 20.22 USD/m3) and Port-au-Prince (59.23 to 60.62 USD/m3) due to their low and high local interest rates, respectively. The decarbonization potential of the F-SSS desalination plant with a 25-year lifetime ranged between 37 and 641 tons of CO2 emission. The specific CO2 generated was found to be the least and highest in San Salvador (4.24 to 4.34 g/L of desalinated water) and Port-au-Price (13.70 to 14.04 g/L of desalinated water), respectively. The energy, finance payback time and sustainability index of the F-SSS desalination plant ranged between 0.59 and 0.67 years, 1.2 and 18.0 months, and 1.03 and 1.04, respectively. The performance, economic and environmental aspects revealed positive signs on the applicability of the F-SSS desalination plant in Central American and Caribbean sites for reliable and sustainable clean water supply. However, this process can be ratified if the concerned governments implement a reasonable subsidy, as is the case with other renewable energy systems.

Source: Energies

DOI: 10.3390/en18061431

Authors: Hilarydoss Sharon, Mansi Prasad, Lakkoju Gowtham, Putta Venu Gopal, S. Aswin

Institutions: Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, Andhra University

Language: English

Topic: Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137