Water Security and Clean Energy, Co-benefits of an Integrated Water and Energy Management

Considering daily surplus output from grid-connected rooftop photovoltaics (PVs) as part of an urban water-related energy mix, this can incentivise the connection of higher number of PVs to the existing grid networks. It has also the benefit of delivering sustainability to energy-intensive water supply technologies such as desalination in cities located in dry climate regions. In this paper, we describe an optimal operation of a desalination-based urban water supply system driven by both grid electricity and surplus PV output. Three tools of geographical information system, system advisor model and Excel are integrated to support a linear programming model. The model is solved through a two-step optimisation approach taking into account water and energy demand and supply systems as well as time of use electricity tariffs. The optimum solution for the north-western corridor of Perth, Australia, shows 12.1 % total cost reduction per day for water supplier and 123 % increase in PV installation capacity; resulting in great benefits for both water and energy sectors.