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Techno-economic analysis on the production of domestic water using solar-driven membrane seawater desalination device in the Philippines

2022; Elsevier BV; Volume: 41; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.csite.2022.102575

2214-157X

Oliver Roy P. Mangosing, Harvey Jade T. Ang, Kirk Angelo Manuel L. Galarrita, Sanny Jay R. Sable, Pamela Mae L. Ucab, Hercules R. Cascon, Maria Theresa I. Cabaraban, Noel Peter Bengzon Tan,

Membrane Separation Technologies

This study investigates the technical design and economic assessment of an industrial plant that produces 160 m3/day of domestic water using solar-driven membrane seawater desalination technology. The proposed desalination plant in Barangay Nalus, Kiamba, Sarangani Province, Philippines, has three main processing areas. These areas include the pre-treatment for particle removal, desalination of seawater, and post-treatment to comply with domestic water standards in the country. The economic assessment revealed a total capital expenditure of $2,364,317.00 with a unit product cost of $9.75/m3 or a selling price of $12.68/m3 with a 30% markup. The high capital and product costs are due to the low production rate, the novelty of the technology, expensive membrane cost, and extensive land area requirement. Profitability analysis for a selling price of $12.68/m3 revealed a more than 14-year payback period, a loss of $235,000.00, and a high 41% chance of being unprofitable. Reducing the product price to a market price of $1.17/m3 also reveals no profit at all: a loss of $4.6 million and a 100% chance of being unprofitable. Thus, it is highly recommended to delay construction of the proposed plant until the technology becomes matured and fully developed to produce a competitive price-wise membrane-based desalinated seawater.