Geothermal Desalination GeoVision Case Study Analysis: Multiple Effect Distillation
- Idaho National Laboratory
Multiple effect distillation (MED) was evaluated as the baseline technology for geothermal desalination. MED desalination plant mass & energy balances were modeled using a simplified method described in the open literature. GETEM was used to calculate hydrothermal and EGS resource costs in the Business-As-Usual and Exploration De-Risk GeoVision Study Scenarios. The levelized cost of water (LCOW) was evaluated for geothermal resources in the temperature range of 100°C to 200°C. The LCOH from geothermal resources in the scenarios evaluated is cost competitive with many of the heat sources examined for MED desalination applications discussed in the literature. In the Business-As-Usual Scenario a hydrothermal resource achieves the LCOW cost target of $1.50/m³ with resource temperatures of approximately 150°C and greater. A hydrothermal resource in the Exploration De-Risk Scenario achieves the LCOW cost target of $1.00/m³ at a resource temperature of 200°C. In all cases evaluated, higher temperature geothermal resources demonstrate increased ability to achieve the specified LCOW cost targets. The degree to which the geothermal resource, feed water source, cooling water, water market, and concentrate disposal site are co-located will have a significant impact on the viability of any geothermal desalination application. In practice, due to large variations in resource characteristics, site attributes, and application requirements, the economic and logistical feasibility of geothermal desalination is likely to be highly site- and application- dependent. Although EGS resources in the Exploration De-Risk Scenario do not achieve the LCOW cost target at the resource temperatures evaluated, EGS resources could be deployed at locations where hydrothermal resources do not exist, which would help to address co-location challenges.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1478759
- Report Number(s):
- INL/CON-17-41869-Rev000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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