The innovative technologies for desalination and their cost benefits

The emergence of new technologies offers many possibilities to expand the desalination sector, which has historically relied on thermal desalination (phase change) and membrane-based desalination (non-phase change). This study examines the latest developments in desalination technologies, namely those approaching commercial feasibility. It also investigates integrating renewable energy sources, such as forward osmosis (FO) and membrane distillation (MD), to power these systems. Furthermore, it examines the possibility of utilising electrochemical methods to reach technical maturity and scalability. In the last ten years, there have been notable advancements in desalination technology, namely reverse osmosis (RO) systems. These advancements have resulted in lower costs for desalinated water and a higher water demand. Water expenses can significantly change among various areas and establishments owing to variables such as subsidies and municipal incentives. Existing cost calculation tools have limitations and lack broad applicability. Implementing a comprehensive cost-estimating approach can assist in determining the best appropriate desalination technology for a given area. The reverse osmosis (RO) system driven by photovoltaics provided the most cost-effective production with electrical energy consumption of almost 2.kWh m −3 and cost of production of $0.26–1.33 m −3 . This article advocates for more research to formulate solutions to reduce these expenses, effectively handling the disposal of brine wastes, and exploring renewable energy options as substitutes for non-renewable fuels.