Editing Desalination (section)

==Costs==

Factors that determine the costs for desalination include capacity and type of facility, location, feed water, labor, energy, financing, and concentrate disposal. Costs of desalinating sea water (infrastructure, energy, and maintenance) are generally higher than fresh water from rivers or [[groundwater]], [[water recycling]], and [[water conservation]], but alternatives are only sometimes available. Desalination costs in 2013 ranged from US$0.45 to US$1.00/m<sup>3</sup>. More than half of the cost comes directly from energy costs, and since energy prices are very volatile, actual costs can vary substantially.<ref name="Zhang 2012">{{cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269694158 |last=Zhang|first=S.X.|author2=V. Babovic |title=A real options approach to the design and architecture of water supply systems using innovative water technologies under uncertainty|journal=Journal of Hydroinformatics|volume=14|pages=13–29|date=2012|doi=10.2166/hydro.2011.078|doi-access=free}}</ref>

The cost of untreated fresh water in the developing world can reach US$5/cubic metre.<ref>[http://www.ipsnews.net/2008/08/development-somalia-finding-water-in-mogadishu/ "Finding Water in Mogadishu"]''IPS news item 2008''</ref>

Since 1975, desalination technology has seen significant advancements, decreasing the average cost of producing one cubic meter of freshwater from seawater from $1.10 in 2000 to approximately $0.50 today. Improved desalination efficiency is a primary factor contributing to this reduction. Energy consumption remains a significant cost component, accounting for up to half the total cost of the desalination process.<ref name="x074">{{cite web | last=Sisson | first=Patrick | title=Water, hold the salt | website=Sherwood News | date=2024-11-11 | url=https://sherwood.news/world/desalination-billion-dollar-industry/ | access-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>

Desalination can significantly burden [[Electrical grid|energy grids]], especially in regions with limited energy resources. For instance, in the island nation of [[Cyprus]], desalination accounts for approximately 5% of the country's total power consumption.<ref name="x074" />

The global desalination market was valued at $20 billion in 2023. With growing populations in arid coastal regions, this market is projected to double by 2032. In 2023, global desalination capacity reached 99 million cubic meters per day, a significant increase from 27 million cubic meters per day in 2003.<ref name="x074" />

{| class="wikitable"
|+Cost Comparison of Desalination Methods
!Method
!Cost (US$/liter)
|-
|Passive solar (30.42% energy efficient)<ref name="Tiwari2006">{{Cite conference|last1=Tiwari|first1=Anil Kr.|last2=Tiwari|first2=G. N.|date=2006-01-01|title=Evaluating the Performance of Single Slope Passive Solar Still for Different Slope of Cover and Water Depths by Thermal Modeling: In Moderate Climatic Condition|conference=ASME 2006 International Solar Energy Conference |pages=545–553|publisher=ASMEDC|doi=10.1115/isec2006-99057|isbn=0-7918-4745-4}}</ref>
!0.034
|-
|Passive solar (improved single-slope, India)<ref name="Tiwari2006" />
!0.024
|-
|Passive solar (improved double slope, India)<ref name="Tiwari2006" />
!0.007
|-
|Multi Stage Flash (MSF)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://solarmagazine.com/no-batteries-needed-low-cost-solar-desalination-system-green-namibia-desert-coast/|title=No Batteries Needed: Can Low-Cost Solar Desalination System "Green" Namibia's Desert Coast?|last=Andrew Burger|date=2019-06-20|website=Solar Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref>
!< 0.001
|-
|Reverse Osmosis (Concentrated solar power)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-05/s-htw051618.php|title=How the world could have 100 percent solar desalination|website=EurekAlert!|language=en|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref>
!0.0008
|-
|Reverse Osmosis (Photovoltaic power)<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Alsheghri|first1=Ammar|last2=Sharief|first2=Saad Asadullah|last3=Rabbani|first3=Shahid|last4=Aitzhan|first4=Nurzhan Z.|date=2015-08-01|title=Design and Cost Analysis of a Solar Photovoltaic Powered Reverse Osmosis Plant for Masdar Institute|journal=Energy Procedia|series=Clean, Efficient and Affordable Energy for a Sustainable Future: The 7th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE2015)|language=en|volume=75|pages=319–324|doi=10.1016/j.egypro.2015.07.365|issn=1876-6102|doi-access=free|bibcode=2015EnPro..75..319A }}</ref>
!0.000825
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Average water consumption and cost of supply by seawater desalination at US$1 per cubic metre (±50%)
|-
! Area  !!    Consumption<br>Litre/person/day  !!  Desalinated Water Cost<br>US$/person/day
|-
| US ||{{0}}378 ||{{0}}0.38
|-
| Europe ||{{0}}189 ||{{0}}0.19
|-
| Africa ||{{0}}{{0}}57 ||{{0}}0.06
|-
| UN recommended minimum||{{0}}{{0}}49 ||{{0}}0.05
|}

Desalination [[still]]s control pressure, temperature and brine concentrations to optimize efficiency. [[nuclear power|Nuclear-powered]] desalination might be economical on a large scale.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf71.html |title=Nuclear Desalination |publisher=[[World Nuclear Association]] |date=January 2010 |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-date=December 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219212254/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf71.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[[Maude Barlow|Barlow, Maude]], and Tony Clarke, [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20020902/barlow "Who Owns Water?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429154115/http://www.thenation.com/doc/20020902/barlow |date=2010-04-29 }} ''The Nation'', 2002-09-02, via thenation.com. Retrieved August 20, 2007.</ref>

In 2014, the Israeli facilities of Hadera, Palmahim, Ashkelon, and Sorek were desalinizing water for less than US$0.40 per cubic meter.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.570374 Over and drought: Why the end of Israel's water shortage is a secret], Haaretz, January 24, 2014</ref> As of 2006, Singapore was desalinating water for US$0.49 per cubic meter.<ref>[http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=11402&channel=0 "Black & Veatch-Designed Desalination Plant Wins Global Water Distinction,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324144203/http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=11402&channel=0 |date=March 24, 2010 }} (Press release). Black & Veatch Ltd., via edie.net, May 4, 2006. Retrieved August 20, 2007.</ref>