Techno-economic analysis of a hybrid solar-wind-geothermal power system for RO desalination in Jizan, Saudi Arabia

This study evaluates the technical, economic, and operational environmental performance of a grid-connected solar photovoltaic-wind-geothermal system powering reverse osmosis (RO) desalination in Jizan, Saudi Arabia. HOMER Pro simulations used site-specific meteorological data, component specifications, and dynamic RO electricity demand. The desalination plant, modeled using DuPont WAVE, required an estimated 30 MW to produce up to 65.46 million m3 of freshwater annually. Full-load and half-load scenarios were compared. Renewable penetration reached 89.7% and 78.9%, with annual renewable electricity generation of approximately 281 and 126 GWh, respectively. The levelized cost of electricity ranged from 0.0563 to 0.0590 USD/kWh, while net present cost decreased from 212 million USD at full load to 115 million USD at half load. Half-load operation increased the internal rate of return from 12% to 14% and shortened the payback period from 7.8 to 6.8 years. Compared with conventional grid-dependent electricity supply, the proposed system reduced grid-related CO2 and air pollutant emissions during operation. These findings demonstrate the potential of hybrid renewable energy systems to support large-scale desalination in hot and arid regions.