Modeling, Simulation and Performance Analysis of Solar PV Integrated with Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Unit for Agriculture Farming

A design model for sustainable and clean power system integrated with reverse osmosis water treatment/desalination unit to meet the challenges of climate change, water shortage and energy while producing organic and healthy food is presented. The main objectives of the optimized design of renewable energy system are: (1) decrease the CO2 emissions, (2) reduce the energy consumption from the grid by adding more renewable resources such as solar, and (3) fresh water production for irrigation using underground or sea water reverse osmosis water treatment/desalination system. The goal is to integrate sustainable power and water systems to meet the challenges of climate change and water shortages especially in desert regions. Modeling and simulation for the optimized design of renewable energy system for the agriculture farm was used in this study. The results show that the grid-tied solar PV energy system has the best performance compared to the grid and standalone renewable power system. The solar energy system connected to the grid is a good option for the agriculture farm with respect to the cost (85$/MWh), renewable fraction (67%), and greenhouse gas emissions (208 kg of carbon dioxide per MWh of energy produced).