Does nuclear desalination make sense for Saudi Arabia?

Does nuclear desalination make sense for Saudi Arabia?

Type	Journal Article
Author	Noura Youssef Mansouri
Author	Ahmed F. Ghoniem
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011916416308086
Publication	Desalination
Date	2016
Abstract	Because global fresh water resources are limited, seawater desalination is an important technology. Most conventional desalination systems use fossil fuels as their energy source. This presents challenges, including depleting fuel reserves, fluctuating fuel prices, and the increasing emissions of carbon dioxide that impact the environment. Nuclear power has been used successfully in desalination, and is presented as an alternative option to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This alternative options is important especially for oil-based countries like Saudi Arabia, with the world's largest water desalination market and the world's largest oil reserves. The country's energy and water sectors face two major challenges, i.e., rising consumption of energy and increasing water demands. Authors examine the economic potential of using nuclear desalination in oil-based Saudi Arabia. They evaluate the economics of fossil-based and nuclear-based desalination systems using data previously presented about nuclear desalination in the literature, previous experiences in other countries and the IAEA modelling tool (DEEP). Results of the study are expected to be a source of information for policy decisions.