Agro Fossil Free - Biomass as a renewable energy source for water desalination: A review

General Description

Water desalination is an energy-intensive process needed in many parts of the world to provide fresh water for drinking, agriculture, and industry. The energy for desalination can come from conventional fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal, as well as renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. One renewable energy source that is widely available but currently unused for water desalination is biomass. The goal of this review was to understand why this is, how biomass compares to other renewable energy sources for water desalination, and under what circumstances the moveable and non-intermittent nature of biomass may provide advantages. The main limitation for biomass is cost, driven by the needed feedstock volumes and process complexity. Biomass-to-heat for thermal desalination technologies is simpler but more energy-intensive. Biomass-to-electricity for membrane desalination uses less energy but has complex processes. Biomass use will likely remain limited to small-scale capacity needs, infrastructure-poor or rural areas with few other options, brackish waters, and abundant, underutilized biomass supplies.

Biomass as a renewable energy source for water desalination: A review

Information
Provider/source
Material
Assessment

FEFTS Specifications

Scientific paper

for Clean energy supply (Energy production system)

Renewable energy source

Biomass (Pellets, Wood log, Energy crops, Agricultural residues, Wood chips)

Technology used

Solid biomass conversion

Special type

Pellet and woodchip Gasifiers

Energy produced

Heat

Suitable/ideal for

Heat for agri-processes

Agricultural domain

Open-field agriculture, Livestock, Greenhouses

Suitable for

Farmer, Producers association, Energy generator, Advisory services, Policy makers

Applications

Agricultural field practices

Especially

Irrigation

Type of solution

Methodology, Procedure

This is a toast

Biomass as a renewable energy source for water desalination: A review

FEFTS Specifications

Scientific paper

Renewable energy source

Technology used

Special type

Energy produced

Suitable/ideal for

Agricultural domain

Suitable for

Applications

Especially

Type of solution

Details

Relevant Files and Videos

Assessment

General

Environmental

Socioeconomic