This activity proposes to investigate in Macaronesia the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of the use of wind, photovoltaic and marine energy, mainly in desalination. There is a period of transition from the desalination plants in self-consumption until the isolated network systems are profitable.

The E5DES project builds up on the existing DESAL+ Living Lab, an ongoing INTERREG-MAC project ( https://www.desalinationlab.com/es/ ) led by ITC to establish an internationally leading desalination lab. In the context of the strategic R&D plan for desalination of Macaronesia, this project focuses on the exclusive use of renewable energies (RE) for desalination, which requires advancing engineering designs, simulations of operations and demonstrations at various scales. Up to 12 studies are proposed at different scales and combinations, practical and theoretical, which have as a guiding principle to feed desalination plants in isolation or in self-consumption with EERR. Each study presents its own methodology according to its scope, data needs and participating partners.

Outcomes:

• To provide technically and economically viable solutions aimed at reducing the dependence on fossil fuels in desalination. In particular for making exclusive use of wind energy, solar photovoltaic and wave energy, as well as hybrid energy systems for powering desalination systems.

• Advance scientific knowledge about the use of renewable solutions for the operation of desalination plants.

• Methodologies to analyse optimal combinations of RES for desalination at different scales, contexts and geographical conditions.

• Analysis of scenarios, impact studies exploitation models of hybrid generation plants connected to the transport/distribution networks associated with the aggregated energy demand of several desalination plants in an island system.