Life Cycle Assessment of Seawater Desalinization in Western Australia
Perth will run out of available sustainable natural
water resources by 2015 if nothing is done to slow usage rates,
according to a Western Australian study [1]. Alternative water
technology options need to be considered for the long-term
guaranteed supply of water for agricultural, commercial, domestic
and industrial purposes. Seawater is an alternative source of water for
human consumption, because seawater can be desalinated and
supplied in large quantities to a very high quality.
While seawater desalination is a promising option, the technology
requires a large amount of energy which is typically generated from
fossil fuels. The combustion of fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases
(GHG) and, is implicated in climate change. In addition to
environmental emissions from electricity generation for desalination,
greenhouse gases are emitted in the production of chemicals and
membranes for water treatment. Since Australia is a signatory to the
Kyoto Protocol, it is important to quantify greenhouse gas emissions
from desalinated water production.
A life cycle assessment (LCA) has been carried out to determine
the greenhouse gas emissions from the production of 1 gigalitre (GL)
of water from the new plant. In this LCA analysis, a new desalination
plant that will be installed in Bunbury, Western Australia, and known
as Southern Seawater Desalinization Plant (SSDP), was taken as a
case study. The system boundary of the LCA mainly consists of three
stages: seawater extraction, treatment and delivery. The analysis
found that the equivalent of 3,890 tonnes of CO2 could be emitted
from the production of 1 GL of desalinated water. This LCA analysis
has also identified that the reverse osmosis process would cause the
most significant greenhouse emissions as a result of the electricity
used if this is generated from fossil fuels
[1] ABC, (2002). Perth water crisis looms,
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s659064.htm.
[2] Water Corporation (2007). Second Seawater Desalination Plant Site
Alternatives and Considerations, ,
http://www.watercorporation.com.au/_files/PublicationsRegister/15/site
_alternatives_report_July07.pdf.
[3] Crisp, G., "Seawater desalination in Australia and the Perth
experienceÔÇöa sustainable solution. 2nd International Salinity Forum
Salinity", water and society-global issues, local action, , Adelaide
Convention Centre, Adelaide, 2006.
[4] Telegraph (2007). Global warming will be first priority. Telegraph, UK,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1570229/Global-warmingwill-
be-first-priority-says-Rudd.html.
[5] ISO, "Environmental Management - Life Cycle Assessment - Principles
and Framework", ISO 14040, International Organization for
Standardization (ISO), Geneva, 1997.
[6] RMIT, "Life cycle assessment tools in building and construction",
RMIT Centre for Design, 2007.
[7] Howard, N., S. Edwards, et al., "BRE Methodology for environmental
profiles of construction materials, components and buildings", UK, IHS
BRE Press, 1999.
[8] PRé Consultants, Simapro Version 7.1. The Netherlands, 2008.
[9] RMIT, "Australian LCA database 2005, Centre for Design", RMIT, Vic,
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology 2005.
[10] SCLCI,. "The Ecoinvent database. Swiss Federal Laboratories for
Materials Testing and Research", Switzerland, Switch Centre for Life
Cycle Inventorie, 2007.
[11] Mrayed, S. and G. Leslie, "Examination of Greenhouse footprint for
both Desalination and Water recycling processes", Ozwater09.
Melbourne, Australia, 2009.
[12] Tongwen, X. and Y. Weihua, "Citric acid production by electrodialysis
with bipolar membranes", Chemical Engineering and Processing vol.
41, 2002, pp.519-524.
[13] P&G,. Natural and Synthetic Surfactants - Which one is better?, 2005,
http://www.scienceinthebox.com/en_UK/programs/natural_synthetic_en
.html.
[14] Tangsubku, N., K. Parameshwaran, et al., "Environmental life cycle
assessment of the microfiltration process." Journal of Membrane
Science, vol. 284, 2006, pp.214-226.
[15] Mrayed, S. and G. Leslie, "Embodied Energy and GHG Emissions
Associated with Boron Removal from Seawater" The First International
Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE09), Hong Kong, 2009.
[16] Lund, C. and W. Biswas, "A Review of the Application of Lifecycle
Analysis to Renewable Energy Systems." Bulletin of Science,
Technology & Society, vol.22, 2008, pp. 206 - 216.
[17] IPCC, 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Japan, 2006.
[18] Department of Climate Change, "Australian Methodology for the Estima
tion of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 2006" Waste, National
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Committee. Canberra, 2006.
[19] Biswas, W. K., "The Southern Seawater Desalinisation plant Life Cycle
Assessment", Sothern Seawater Alliance, Western Australia, 2009.
[20] Raluy, G., L Serra, et al., "Life cycle assessment of MSF, MED and RO
desalination technologies", Energy vol. 31, no. 13, 2006, pp. 2025-2036.
[1] ABC, (2002). Perth water crisis looms,
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s659064.htm.
[2] Water Corporation (2007). Second Seawater Desalination Plant Site
Alternatives and Considerations, ,
http://www.watercorporation.com.au/_files/PublicationsRegister/15/site
_alternatives_report_July07.pdf.
[3] Crisp, G., "Seawater desalination in Australia and the Perth
experienceÔÇöa sustainable solution. 2nd International Salinity Forum
Salinity", water and society-global issues, local action, , Adelaide
Convention Centre, Adelaide, 2006.
[4] Telegraph (2007). Global warming will be first priority. Telegraph, UK,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1570229/Global-warmingwill-
be-first-priority-says-Rudd.html.
[5] ISO, "Environmental Management - Life Cycle Assessment - Principles
and Framework", ISO 14040, International Organization for
Standardization (ISO), Geneva, 1997.
[6] RMIT, "Life cycle assessment tools in building and construction",
RMIT Centre for Design, 2007.
[7] Howard, N., S. Edwards, et al., "BRE Methodology for environmental
profiles of construction materials, components and buildings", UK, IHS
BRE Press, 1999.
[8] PRé Consultants, Simapro Version 7.1. The Netherlands, 2008.
[9] RMIT, "Australian LCA database 2005, Centre for Design", RMIT, Vic,
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology 2005.
[10] SCLCI,. "The Ecoinvent database. Swiss Federal Laboratories for
Materials Testing and Research", Switzerland, Switch Centre for Life
Cycle Inventorie, 2007.
[11] Mrayed, S. and G. Leslie, "Examination of Greenhouse footprint for
both Desalination and Water recycling processes", Ozwater09.
Melbourne, Australia, 2009.
[12] Tongwen, X. and Y. Weihua, "Citric acid production by electrodialysis
with bipolar membranes", Chemical Engineering and Processing vol.
41, 2002, pp.519-524.
[13] P&G,. Natural and Synthetic Surfactants - Which one is better?, 2005,
http://www.scienceinthebox.com/en_UK/programs/natural_synthetic_en
.html.
[14] Tangsubku, N., K. Parameshwaran, et al., "Environmental life cycle
assessment of the microfiltration process." Journal of Membrane
Science, vol. 284, 2006, pp.214-226.
[15] Mrayed, S. and G. Leslie, "Embodied Energy and GHG Emissions
Associated with Boron Removal from Seawater" The First International
Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE09), Hong Kong, 2009.
[16] Lund, C. and W. Biswas, "A Review of the Application of Lifecycle
Analysis to Renewable Energy Systems." Bulletin of Science,
Technology & Society, vol.22, 2008, pp. 206 - 216.
[17] IPCC, 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Japan, 2006.
[18] Department of Climate Change, "Australian Methodology for the Estima
tion of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 2006" Waste, National
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Committee. Canberra, 2006.
[19] Biswas, W. K., "The Southern Seawater Desalinisation plant Life Cycle
Assessment", Sothern Seawater Alliance, Western Australia, 2009.
[20] Raluy, G., L Serra, et al., "Life cycle assessment of MSF, MED and RO
desalination technologies", Energy vol. 31, no. 13, 2006, pp. 2025-2036.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:56552", author = "Wahidul K. Biswas", title = "Life Cycle Assessment of Seawater Desalinization in Western Australia", abstract = "Perth will run out of available sustainable natural
water resources by 2015 if nothing is done to slow usage rates,
according to a Western Australian study [1]. Alternative water
technology options need to be considered for the long-term
guaranteed supply of water for agricultural, commercial, domestic
and industrial purposes. Seawater is an alternative source of water for
human consumption, because seawater can be desalinated and
supplied in large quantities to a very high quality.
While seawater desalination is a promising option, the technology
requires a large amount of energy which is typically generated from
fossil fuels. The combustion of fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases
(GHG) and, is implicated in climate change. In addition to
environmental emissions from electricity generation for desalination,
greenhouse gases are emitted in the production of chemicals and
membranes for water treatment. Since Australia is a signatory to the
Kyoto Protocol, it is important to quantify greenhouse gas emissions
from desalinated water production.
A life cycle assessment (LCA) has been carried out to determine
the greenhouse gas emissions from the production of 1 gigalitre (GL)
of water from the new plant. In this LCA analysis, a new desalination
plant that will be installed in Bunbury, Western Australia, and known
as Southern Seawater Desalinization Plant (SSDP), was taken as a
case study. The system boundary of the LCA mainly consists of three
stages: seawater extraction, treatment and delivery. The analysis
found that the equivalent of 3,890 tonnes of CO2 could be emitted
from the production of 1 GL of desalinated water. This LCA analysis
has also identified that the reverse osmosis process would cause the
most significant greenhouse emissions as a result of the electricity
used if this is generated from fossil fuels", keywords = "Desalinization, Greenhouse gas emissions, life
cycle assessment.", volume = "3", number = "8", pages = "238-7", }