48x72 poster template

1
The Use of Potential Renewable Energy Resources
for Developing Sustainable Water Supplies Tamim
Younos Virginia Water Resources Research Center
and Department of Geography, Virginia Tech
ABSTRACT
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
APPLICATION POTENTIAL IN VIRGINIA
There is a significant need to integrate
renewable energy resources into water production
systems. Potential renewable energy resources
include solar energy (e.g. photovoltaic and solar
energy concentrators/collectors), wind energy,
geothermal energy, and ocean energy (tidal power,
wave energy, and thermal energy). This poster
presentation provides an overview of the
potential use of renewable energy resources for
developing sustainable water supplies that
implement advanced water purification
technologies. The presentation addresses the
potential and limitations of these alternative
energy resources for production of sustainable
water supplies in Virginia and the need for
developing interdisciplinary research,
institutional framework, and policy making to
meet future global water demand.
Acknowledgments Kimberly Tulou assisted with
research, Jane Walker with editing, and Kelly
Davis with developing the poster.
Safe and adequate water supplies are needed to
protect public health and to sustain economic
productivity. The Engineer of 2020, a National
Academy of Engineering publication quotes The
question of water is at the heart of a 600-page
world water development report issued by the
United Nations in 2003. Its projected that
within the next 20 years virtually every nation
in the world will face some type of water supply
problem. In coming decades, significant
increased water demand is expected in Northern
Virginia, Hampton Roads and population and
industrial centers in Virginia. To meet future
global water demand, in addition to developing
conventional surface and groundwater sources that
are quickly diminishing, it will become necessary
to develop alternative water sources. Potential
alternative water sources include urban storm
water runoff, municipal wastewater treatment
plant discharges, saline and other waters that
are impure for human consumption and economic
uses. Currently, advanced and highly effective
water purification systems using technologies
such as membranes and thermal (distillation)
processes are being developed for this purpose.
However, these advanced water purification
technologies are energy intensive and feasibility
of implementing these technologies are directly
affected by energy consumption.

INTEGRATING RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES TO PRODUCE
SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLIES
Potential Renewable Energy Resources
Alternative Water Sources
WATER PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND ENERGY
CONSUMPTION
Solar
Wastewater
Advanced Water Purification Technologies

Membrane Technologies Membrane water purification
processed use either pressure-driven or
electrical-driven technologies or a combination
of these technologies. Reverse Osmosis (RO), a
pressure-driven process, is the most common
technology in the United States. Energy is needed
to operate the process. Therm
al Technologies Thermal technologies use
evaporation and distillation processes to purify
water. The process is highly energy intensive and
uncommon in the United States. Advanced
technologies such as Mechanical Vapor Compression
(MVC) integrate thermal and mechanical energy.
Wind
Runoff
Geothermal
Saline Water
Ocean
Other
Sustainable Water Supplies
GLOBAL EXAMPLES USING RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES
FOR DEVELOPING WATER SUPPLIES
RECOMMENDATIONS
Photovoltaic arrays convert solar energy into
electricity through the transfer of electrons.
The arrays are made of silicon chips because
silicon effectively and efficiently transfers
electrons. When sun rays shine on the silicon
chips, the electrons jump to another orbit. This
movement creates a voltage that can be used to
power pumps for water purification.
Wind energy rotates windmills creating mechanical
energy that can be converted to electrical
energy. Turbines utilizing wind energy for low
power (10 kW-100 kW), medium power (100 kW-0.5
MW), and high power (gt 0.5 MW) are mature
technologies.

• Develop an atlas of potential renewable natural
  resources in Virginia with regard to their
  availability and potential in a Geographic
  Information System (GIS) environment
• Form an interdisciplinary research team of
  experts in energy, water purification
  technologies, water resource economics, and
  geospatial analysis to develop a template for
  overall research needs and costs
• Create a statewide task force that includes
  representatives from regulatory agencies,
  utilities (water and power), academia, and
  citizens that will develop the framework for
  institutional infrastructure and implantation
  strategies for using renewable energy for water
  production.

APPROACHES TO MEET ENERGY DEMAND
REFERENCES

• Energy Conservation
• Increase Output of Traditional Sources (coal,
  oil, nuclear)
• Using Renewable Energy Sources (solar, wind,
  geothermal, ocean)

Younos, T (Ed.). 2005. Desalination A Primer.
Journal of Contemporary Water Research
Education. Universities Council on Water
Resources, Carbondale, Ill. 52 pp. To order
e-mail ucowr_at_siu.edu. Younos, T. 2004. The
feasibility of using desalination to supplement
drinking water supplies in Eastern Virginia.
VWRRC Special Report SR25-2004. Virginia Water
Resources Research Center, Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, VA. 114 pp. Available Online
www.vwrrc.vt.edu/publications/recent.htm