Evaluation of Natural Gas to Reduce Carbon Footprint and Energy Cost for Desalination

The overall goal of this project was provide a better understanding of the application of LNG/NG for self-generation of power at desalination plants and/or for the operation of gas-driven engines for large desalination plant pumping. The specific objectives of this project were to:

1. Assess the application of liquefied natural gas (LNG)/natural gas (NG) at seawater desalination facilities.
2. Perform an economic analysis of the application of LNG/NG for power generation at desalination facilities.
3. Identify the environmental benefits/impacts of incorporating LNG/NG at desalination facilities.
4. Compare the grid electricity and LNG/NG-based power generation based on life cycle cost (LCC) analysis.
5. Develop a conceptual framework for site-specific implementation of a LNG-based power generation facility at a seawater desalination plant.

Published in 2016. Originally funded as WERF project Reuse-13-05.