Energy-water nexus in East Iraq: capacity potential analysis and spatial assessment for an integrated CSP solar power & RO brackish water desalination plant in Khanaqin area

Abstract

Abstract In this research, an analysis of site suitability and potential desalination capacity for an integrated concentrated solar power (CSP) and reverse osmosis (RO) system can be established to overcome water-energy nexus problems such as water supply shortage, fossil fuel carbon emission, and increasing power consumption in Khanaqin area, East Iraq. Regarding various environmental and economic criteria, the analysis employed different methods and tools: analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method, additive weighting method for location selection (SL), and kriging interpolation with map algebra spatial analysis tools in ArcGIS software. The chosen criteria were assessed by using the rating method, and then the relative weight of each criterion was determined. Site suitability assessment results showed that only 0.05% of the study area, represented by thirteen sites, was highly suitable for the integrated CSP-RO system. Considering higher potential desalination capacity of the integrated CSP-RO system, the number of suitable sites was further refined, therefore only two plant sites were suggested for optimum desalination capacity. The current study helps to quantify factors related to establishing and operating combined CSP and RO plant, which aid for further insight investigations on solar and water resources availability of similar systems for different areas around the world.