Bryan E. Escoto, Michael Lochinvar Sim Abundo
This study employed a three-phase framework to assess the integration of renewable energy into small-scale reverse osmosis (RO) desalination systems, incorporating techno-economic analysis, geospatial suitability mapping, and evaluation of the impacts on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Phase 1, a techno-economic assessment was conducted to determine the technical feasibility, economic viability, and environmental performance of various energy configurations, including combinations of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind turbines (WT), grid electricity, and diesel generators. Results identified the PV-grid hybrid system as the most optimal for the case study island, providing continuous electricity at $0.21/kWh and producing desalinated water for $2.02/m³, which is significantly cheaper than mainland-supplied purified water. This configuration achieved a 69.6 % renewable energy share, the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions among all scenarios. In Phase 2, geospatial analysis was conducted to identify suitable land for PV grid deployment. Using weighted site selection criteria, 2 % of the island's land area was deemed suitable for installation. Phase 3 assessed the alignment of the proposed project with and its contribution to the SDGs. The results indicate that the system contributes to 19 SDG targets but also presents eight potential trade-offs. The results underscore the importance of integrating responsive actions early in the project cycle, from planning through to operation. These include awareness campaigns, stakeholder consultations, inclusive decision-making, and continuous monitoring. Proactive implementation of these measures is essential to minimize trade-offs and ensure the long-term environmental and operational sustainability of desalination projects. © 2025 The Authors
Sorsogon State University, Sorsogon City, Philippines; University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines; College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
