The role of the solar-based stand-alone microgrid to enhance environmental sustainability: A case study

The present study aims to design, model, and optimize a desalination system integrated with solar energy in Larak Island, Iran, to determine the best size with the least cost, environmental damage, and maximum reliability using the division algorithm. The environmental impacts of designed configurationsare evaluated using the EcoInvent database and the IMPACT 2002 + method available in SimaPro software. This study shows that when the loss of power supply probability (LPSP) is 10%, the system has the least cost and environmental impact. Increasing water significantly increases costs and environmental impacts. A decrease in LPSP (%) leads to a significant cost increase and environmental impacts. The environmental assessment results of freshwater production by desalination integrated with the photovoltaic panel show that 1 m(3) of freshwater leads, on average, to 4.83E-7 DALY (disability-adjusted life years) damage to human health, 0.157 PDF*m(2)*yr (potentially disappeared fraction of species per m(2) per year) damage to ecosystem quality, 0.280 kg CO2 eq damage to climate change, and 4.614 MJ damage to resources (for LPSP from 2 to 10%). According to the results, the attachment of a diesel generator to desalination integrated with photovoltaic panels increases the damage to human health, climate change, resources, and ecosystem quality by 562%, 440%, 389%, and 144%, respectively.