Modeling and Economic Analysis of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Simultaneous Production of Power, Freshwater, and Chlor-Alkali Products in Kish Island

Cheraghi, Keyvan; Sedighi, Mehdi; Mohammadi, Majid

doi:10.22034/jrenew.2026.247104

Modeling and Economic Analysis of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Simultaneous Production of Power, Freshwater, and Chlor-Alkali Products in Kish Island

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Keyvan Cheraghi ¹

Mehdi Sedighi ¹

Majid Mohammadi ²

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Qom

² Department of Energy Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Qom University of Technology

10.22034/jrenew.2026.247104

Abstract

Kish Island, a strategic region in the Persian Gulf, currently relies on reverse osmosis desalination and fossil-fuel power plants for water and electricity supply. Given rising fuel prices and environmental concerns, this study presents a technical–economic evaluation of a hybrid renewable energy system integrating solar and wind resources to sustainably meet the water and electricity demands of 40,000 residents. The system utilizes RO brine as feedstock for a chlor-alkali electrolysis unit to co-produce valuable by-products: surplus electricity, chlorine gas, 50% liquid caustic soda, and hydrogen. Climate data was sourced from NCC Tide, PVsyst, and Wind Atlas. Results indicate that tidal energy is economically unviable due to low tidal range (~1.29 m). MATLAB-based optimization determined that installing 14 × 12 MW wind turbines and a 59.25 MW photovoltaic plant—without energy storage—is sufficient to fully cover annual demand. In a simplified economic analysis (excluding operational costs), the initial investment is estimated at 17.36 trillion tomans, with an annual profit of 5.85 trillion tomans, yielding a payback period of 30 months. When operational expenditures (salt, maintenance, etc.) are included, the net annual cash flow decreases to 4,837 billion tomans. Nevertheless, financial analysis using an 18% discount rate reveals a positive NPV of +8,537 billion tomans and an IRR of ~27.25%, confirming strong economic viability.

Keywords

Renewable

Hybrid

Chlor-Alkali

Reverse Osmosis Desalination

Photovoltaic

Economic

Subjects

Renewable Energy

- مراجع

[1] M. Jaccard, Sustainable fossil fuels: the unusual suspect in the quest for clean and enduring energy. Cambridge University Press, 2006.

[2] J. Saldaña, M. Yurukcu, N. Boppana, S. Arbabi, J. Henry, and S. Ziyanak, Conventional and Fossil Fuels, in Energy Transition in the Oil and Gas Industry, pp. 70-111: CRC Press, 2025.

[3] U. Bello, C. M. Agu, D. A. Ajiya, A. A. Mahmoud, L. Udopia, N. M. Lawal, A. A. Abdullahi, and M. Muhammad, renewable energy: A review on its potentials and production strategies, Journal of Chemical Reviews, Vol. 4, No. 3, p. 114015, 2022.

[4] Q. Hassan, P. Viktor, T. J. Al-Musawi, B. M. Ali, S. Algburi, H. M. Alzoubi, A. K. Al-Jiboory, A. Z. Sameen, H. M. Salman, and M. Jaszczur, The renewable energy role in the global energy Transformations, Renewable Energy Focus, Vol. 48, p. 100545, 2024.

[5] H. Dargahi and M. Bahrami Gholami, The GHGs emissions determinants in selected OECD and OPEC countries and the policy implications for Iran:(Panel data approach), Iranian Energy Economics, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 73-99, 2011.

[6] S. Karimian and S. S. Saham, Wind Energy potential evaluation and customizing a H-rotor Turbine based on Tehran, Zahedan and Manjil climate, Journal of Solid and Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp. 267-281, 2022.

[7] J. Yoon, H. J. Kwon, S. Kang, E. Brack, and J. Han, Portable seawater desalination system for generating drinkable water in remote locations, Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 56, No. 10, pp. 6733-6743, 2022.

[8] R. A. Almasri and S. Narayan, A recent review of energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, International Journal of Green Energy, Vol. 18, No. 14, pp. 1441-1468, 2021.

[9] I. E. Atawi, A. Q. Al-Shetwi, A. M. Magableh, and O. H. Albalawi, Recent advances in hybrid energy storage system integrated renewable power generation: Configuration, control, applications, and future directions, Batteries, Vol. 9, No. 1, p. 29, 2022.

[10] A. Badakhanian and A. Maleki, Optimization of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Power and Hydrogen Production, Nashrieh Shimi va Mohandesi Shimi Iran, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 319-339, 2023.

[11] M. Temiz and I. Dincer, A unique ocean and solar based multigenerational system with hydrogen production and thermal energy storage for Arctic communities, Energy, Vol. 239, p. 122126, 2022.

[12] A. Bedakhanian, A. Maleki, and S. Haghighat, Utilizing the multi-objective particle swarm optimization for designing a renewable multiple energy system on the basis of the parabolic trough solar collector, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 47, No. 86, pp. 36433-36447, 2022.

[13] J. Jiang, B. Ming, Q. Huang, J. Chang, P. Liu, W. Zhang, and K. Ren, Hybrid generation of renewables increases the energy system's robustness in a changing climate, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 324, p. 129205, 2021.

[14] L. Khani, F. Jabari, M. Mohammadpourfard, and B. Mohammadi-Ivatloo, Design, evaluation, and optimization of an efficient solar-based multi-generation system with an energy storage option for Iran’s summer peak demand, Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 242, p. 114324, 2021.

[15] L. Evans, I. Ashton, and B. Sellar, Tidal turbine power performance assessments following IEC TS 62600-200 using measured and modelled power outputs, Renewable Energy, Vol. 212, pp. 138-150, 2023.

[16] I. Q. A'yun and D. Anggrayni, Determinants of CO2 Emission: Evidence from United States, Journal of Economics Research and Social Sciences, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 175-191, 2023.

[17] M. Kadiri, R. Ahmadian, B. Bockelmann-Evans, W. Rauen, and R. Falconer, A review of the potential water quality impacts of tidal renewable energy systems, Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 329-341, 2012.

[18] Z. Sadeghi, M. Ranjbar, and M. Iranmanesh, The comparison of tidal power plants with solar and combined cycle power plants in the southern coast of Iran, Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, Vol. 40, No. 5, p. e13670, 2021.

[19] T. O'Doherty, D. M. O'Doherty, and A. Mason-Jones, Tidal Energy Technology, in Wave and Tidal Energy, pp. 105-150, 2018.

[20] S. Falahat, J. Nycander, F. Roquet, and M. Zarroug, Global calculation of tidal energy conversion into vertical normal modes, Journal of Physical Oceanography, Vol. 44, No. 12, pp. 3225-3244, 2014.

[21] Global Wind Atlas (GWA), Wind speed data, Accessed 2024; https://globalwindatlas.info/en.

[22] Wind turbine models, GE Vernova GE Haliade-X 12 MW, Accessed 2024;https://en.wind-turbine-models.com/turbines/1809-ge-vernova-ge-haliade-x-12-mw.

[23] W. Tong, Fundamentals of wind energy. WIT press Southampton, UK, 2010.

[24] R. J. Barthelmie and L. Jensen, Evaluation of wind farm efficiency and wind turbine wakes at the Nysted offshore wind farm, Wind Energy, Vol. 13, No. 6, pp. 573-586, 2010.

[25] S. Eriksson, H. Bernhoff, and M. Leijon, Evaluation of different turbine concepts for wind power, renewable and sustainable energy reviews, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp. 1419-1434, 2008.

[26] R. R. Tan, K. B. Aviso, D. C. Foo, J.-Y. Lee, and A. T. Ubando, Optimal synthesis of negative emissions polygeneration systems with desalination, Energy, Vol. 187, p. 115953, 2019.

[27] Y. Cohen, R. Semiat, and A. Rahardianto, A perspective on reverse osmosis water desalination: Quest for sustainability, AIChE Journal, Vol. 63, No. 6, 2017.

[28] T. M. Mogashane, J. P. Maree, M. Mujuru, and M. M. Mphahlele‐Makgwane, Technologies that can be Used for the Treatment of Wastewater and Brine for the Recovery of Drinking Water and Saleable Products, Recovery of byproducts from acid mine drainage treatment, pp. 97-156, 2020.

[29] P. Millet, Chlor-alkali technology: fundamentals, processes and materials for diaphragms and membranes, in Handbook of Membrane Reactors, pp. 384-415: Elsevier, 2013.

[30] F. Hine, B. Tilak, and K. Viswanathan, Chemistry and chemical engineering in the chlor-alkali industry, Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry: Volume 18, pp. 249-302, 1986.

[31] R. Derakhshanalavijeh and J. M. C. Teixeira, Cost overrun in construction projects in developing countries, Gas-Oil industry of Iran as a case study, Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 125-136, 2017.

[32] H. Yahyazadeh, Legal Analysis of Renewable Energy in reference to the Iranian Legal System, Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 31-38, 2020.

[33] Iran Energy Exchange, Accessed 2025; https://iee.ir/.

[34] Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME), Accessed 2025; https://en.ime.co.ir/.

[35] X. Wang, A. Palazoglu, and N. H. El-Farra, Operational optimization and demand response of hybrid renewable energy systems, Applied Energy, Vol. 143, pp. 324-335, 2015.

[36] L. Keča, N. Keča, and D. Pantić, Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return as indicators for assessment of cost-efficiency of poplar plantations: a Serbian case study, International Forestry Review, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 145-156, 2012.