INTEGRATING RENEWABLE ENERGY IN WATER SYSTEMS: DESIGN CASE STUDIES FOR THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

摘要

A new methodology was used to explore a range of water treatment scenarios for the population centers on the four inhabited islands of the Galapagos archipelago. The methodology combines a sustainability-oriented decision matrix, comparisons of water treatment system energy use, and simulations of grid-connected renewable energy systems for the water systems. Treatment technologies were screened with the sustainability-oriented decision matrix. Typical water treatment system energy consumption for each appropriate process train was calculated and HOMER software was used to determine economically optimal grid-connected renewable energy systems providing a 70% renewable fraction. Water treatment process trains for each island were compared over the 20-year project lifetime using HOMER simulation results. Preliminary design recommendations and cost estimates for both the water treatment and renewable energy systems were developed for each location. Results indicate the importance of including energy considerations in the selection of appropriate water treatment systems.