Design of an industrial Photovoltaic-Driven Reverse Osmosis (PV-RO) Plant in Bahrain

Renewable energy-driven desalination is a viable solution for such an energy-intensive industry. In the gulf cooperation council (GCC) region, where the largest desalination plants worldwide are accommodated, fossil fuels exhibit a real dilemma. Nonetheless, the region features an abundant solar energy resource. This work contributes to the collective efforts for shifting the conventional fossil fuel-dependent desalination associated with a high carbon footprint toward an eco-friendly model by integrating photovoltaic (PV) technology.Within this frame, an industrial brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) plant went under energy analysis to set the appropriate PV-driven RO design. Finally, a grid-connected design was simulated by Helioscope and PVsyst software to integrate half-cut cells PV modules (460 W p ) on the rooftops of three buildings.The results showed that 525 kW AC power (DC/AC ratio≈ 1.2) could be achieved with a specific yield of 1258 kWh/kW p , and an overall performance ratio of 79.1%, representing around 786 MWh annually.