Renewable energy-driven microgrid design for a desalination plant in Noakhali, Bangladesh

Abstract

The scarcity of drinking water is a threat to the survival of any living being. The sea is the largest source of water, yet this source remains unutilized due to salinity. Production of drinking water from sea water using reverse osmosis (RO) desalination is viable using modern technology. This paper proposes a solar powered microgrid system for desalination plants with a capacity of 100 cubic meter per day drinking water located in Noakhali. The optimal solution for microgrid design is based on the criteria of energy costs, meeting demand requirements, and limiting excess electricity, utilizing HOMER. The optimal design includes 170 kW of solar panels, meeting the target energy demand for the RO plant. The predicted reduction of around 100 tons of carbon dioxide emissions by the proposed microgrid has a favorable effect on the environment.