Bounding the marginal cost of producing potable water including the use of seawater desalinization as a backstop potable water production technology

April 1, 2014

Report

Bounding the marginal cost of producing potable water including the use of seawater desalinization as a backstop potable water production technology

Abstract

The analysis presented in this technical report should allow for the creation of high, medium, and low cost potable water prices for GCAM. Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) based desalinization should act as a backstop for the cost of producing potable water (i.e., the literature seems clear that SWRO should establish an upper bound for the plant gate cost of producing potable water). Transporting water over significant distances and having to lift water to higher elevations to reach end-users can also have a significant impact on the cost of producing water. The three potable fresh water scenarios describe in this technical report are: low cost water scenario ($0.10/m3); medium water cost scenario ($1.00/m3); and high water cost scenario ($2.50/m3).

Revised: April 22, 2014 | Published: April 1, 2014

Citation

Dooley J.J. 2014. Bounding the marginal cost of producing potable water including the use of seawater desalinization as a backstop potable water production technology Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.