Desalination by sea wave in small islands: The case of study of Lampedusa (Italy)

Abstract

The paper analyses the theme of water energy nexus, investigating a specific industrial process: desalination. In particular, the paper reports a case of study, applied in the small island of Lampedusa, located at south of Sicily (Italy). As the many small islands in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Lampedusa presents a small electrical grid, not connected to the mainland. The electrical production is entrusted to old diesel engines, consuming fossil fuel, transported by boat from Sicily. Besides, the renewable energy sources are extremely underdeveloped in this territory, since the environmental constraints make complex the use of technologies, like wind turbines or photovoltaic panels. Furthermore, Lampedusa is regularly affected by water scarcity, so freshwater is produced by desalination plants and sometimes transported by boat. In this context, the paper analyses the energy demand for the desalination process and evaluates an interesting renewable energy source, available in the small island: sea wave. Proposing an innovative technology for the exploitation of this resource, the paper estimates the electrical energy production considering the realization of a sea wave energy farm, able to cover the electrical energy demand of the desalination plants, located in Lampedusa.