Recent progress in renewable energy based-desalination in the Middle East and North Africa MENA region

BACKGROUND: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries are rapidly growing in population with very limited access to freshwater resources. To overcome this challenge, seawater desalination is proposed as an effective solution, as most MENA countries have easy access to saline water. However, desalination processes have massive demand for energy, which is mostly met by fossil fuel-driven power plants. The rapid technological advancements in renewable energy technologies, along with their gradually decreasing cost place renewable energy-driven power plants and processes as a promising alternative to conventional fuel-powered plants. AIM OF REVIEW: In the current work, renewable energy-powered desalination in the MENA region is investigated. Various desalination technologies and renewable energy resources, particularly those available in MENA are discussed. A detailed discussion of suitable energy storage technologies for incorporation into renewable energy desalination systems is also included. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: The progress made in implementing renewable energy into power desalination plants in MENA countries is summarized and analyzed by describing the overall trend and giving recommendations for the potential amalgamation of available renewable energies (REs) and available desalination technologies. Finally, a case study in the MENA region, the Al Khafji solar seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia KSA, is used to demonstrate the implementation of REs to drive desalination processes.