Comparison of Desalination Technologies Using Renewable Energy Sources with Life Cycle, PESTLE, and Multi-Criteria Decision Analyses

Nowadays, desalination continues to expand globally, which is one of the most effective solutions solve problem global drinking water shortage. However, not a fail-safe process and has many environmental human health consequences. This paper investigated procedure seawater with different technologies, namely, multi-stage flash distillation (MSF), multi-effect (MED), reverse osmosis (RO), various energy sources (fossil energy, solar wind nuclear energy). The aim was examine technologies’ effectiveness using three assessment methods, were examined separately. life cycle (LCA), PESTLE, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods used evaluate each procedure. LCA based on following impact evaluation methods: ReCiPe 2016, IMPACT 2002+, IPCC 2013 GWP 100a; PESTLE risk evaluated long-lasting processes technologies political, economic, social, technological, legal, factors. Additionally, MCDA Technique for Order Preference by Similarity Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method technologies. study considered operational phase plant, includes necessary chemical needs, called “gate-to-gate” analysis. Saudi Arabia data analysis, base unit 1 m3 product. As result this study, RO combined renewable provided outstanding benefits in terms health, ecosystem quality, resources, as well climate change emissions GHGs categories.