Optimal Sizing and Feasibility Assessment of an Energy-Water-Heat Nexus Fulfilled by an Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy Option

The employment of renewable energy acquisition and deployment of economic strategies are important contributors to addressing energy shortages and water deficits. This assessment examines the techno-economic feasibility evaluation of integrating a hybrid energy system (HES) to a reverse osmosis desalination plant for the provision of electricity, heat, and water in isolated islands, namely, including Lavan, Larak, and Failaka islands. The proposed HES includes photovoltaic panels, wind turbine, diesel generator, combined heat-power microturbine generator, converter, batteries thermal load controller, and a boiler with real-time hourly wind speed, irradiation, and fuel price changes. The winning HES is seen in Failaka Island, obtaining the lowest net present and energy cost and loss of power supply probability(LPSP) of $1.09M, $0.091/kWh, and 0.064, respectively and the highest renewable fraction of 17.8%. The winning case also shows a lower carbon footprint (CF) by having ~21% and ~2% lower diesel and natural gas consumption than Larak and Lavan Islands, respectively. Sensitivity assessment on the winning case reveals that an increase in panels' derating factor would enhance COE, PV production, renewable fraction, and, followingly LSPS reduction. Furthermore, excluding the PV system and wind turbine from the winning system would increase annual operating costs by %24.5 and %19.8, respectively