Abstract
This paper investigates the design, simulation, and techno-economic evaluation of a renewable energy-driven desalination system that integrates wind power with hydrogen-based energy storage. The proposed system is tailored for Chabahar, Iran a coastal region suffering from freshwater scarcity and is designed to produce 3500 m3/day of potable water through reverse osmosis (RO). Wind turbines serve as the primary energy source, while excess electricity is used to generate hydrogen via alkaline electrolysis. The produced hydrogen is compressed and stored in high-pressure tanks, then reconverted to electricity using a fuel cell during periods of low wind availability. A diesel generator provides tertiary backup to ensure operational reliability. The core innovation lies in the hybrid wind–hydrogen energy architecture, which effectively balances the variability of renewable resources while minimizing fossil fuel dependency. The entire system was modeled dynamically in TRNSYS and validated through comparison with existing benchmark studies. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the impact of wind turbine count on hydrogen production, system efficiency, and fuel cell performance. Results indicate that increasing wind capacity reduces generator use and CO2 emissions, with 200 turbines identified as the optimal trade-off point. At this configuration, the system achieves a Levelized Cost of Water (LCOW) of $0.945/m3 and annual emissions of only 358 tons of CO2 an 80 % reduction compared to a fully diesel-based system. This study demonstrates the technical feasibility and economic competitiveness of hydrogen-supported renewable desalination systems and underscores their potential as a sustainable solution for water-stressed coastal regions.
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•A novel, self-sufficient seawater reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant powered by a hybrid wind-hydrogen energy system is designed and modeled.•Dynamic techno-economic simulation is performed for the water-scarce coastal region of Chabahar, Iran, to produce 3,500 m³/day of freshwater.•Balancing cost and emissions leads to a configuration with 200 turbines, achieving a competitive Levelized Cost of Water (LCOW) of $0.945/m³.•The proposed system demonstrates a significant environmental benefit, reducing annual CO₂ emissions to just 358 tons, an 80.4% reduction compared to a fully diesel-powered alternative.•The system design provides long-term energy and water security for the region by achieving relative independence from the price volatility of fossil fuels.