Integrated techno-environmental-economic and thermal assessment of a solar-powered HDH-RO-battery desalination system

Asgharzadeh Karamshahlu, Alireza; Saidi, Mohammad Hassan; Bahman Jahromi, Hooman; Behzadi-Sarok, Mohammad

doi:10.22059/ees.2026.2079586.1577

Integrated techno-environmental-economic and thermal assessment of a solar-powered HDH-RO-battery desalination system

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Alireza Asgharzadeh Karamshahlu

Mohammad Hassan Saidi

Hooman Bahman Jahromi

Mohammad Behzadi-Sarok

Center of Excellence in Energy Conversion (CEEC), School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/ees.2026.2079586.1577

Abstract

Ensuring a continuous freshwater supply in off-grid regions is challenging due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy and the high energy demand of desalination. This study presents a solar-powered hybrid humidification-dehumidification and reverse osmosis (HDH-RO) desalination system integrated with lithium-ion (NMC) battery storage for fully autonomous 24-hour operation. A coupled techno-economic and thermal modeling framework was developed, linking HOMER Pro (v3.18.3) optimization with ANSYS Fluent (2022R2) transient thermal simulations of the battery pack to ensure cost-effective performance and verify battery thermal safety. The optimized configuration comprising a 7.5 kW photovoltaic array, eight 94 Ah batteries, and a 1.68 kW converter delivers a steady 0.7 kW load, producing freshwater at a levelized cost of 0.95 $/m³ and a net present cost of 25,946 $, 24% lower than a diesel-powered system. Thermal analysis showed a maximum 6.3 K temperature rise in the battery cells over 24 hours, confirming safe operation without active cooling. The proposed system demonstrates its practical feasibility for implementation in Hengam Island, representing a viable and sustainable solution for continuous, off-grid freshwater production in coastal regions. In addition to powering desalination, the PV-battery configuration generates surplus clean electricity, serving as a dual-purpose energy-water system that substantially reduces diesel dependence and emissions, achieving an annual reduction of about 9.8 tons of air pollutants. The results highlight a scalable, integrated, and zero-emission energy-water system for sustainable development in isolated island regions.

Keywords

Solar-Powered Desalination

Hybrid HDH-RO System

Lithium-Ion (NMC) Battery Storage

Techno-Economic Analysis

Off-Grid Freshwater Production

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