Development of Seawater Desalination Technology

• Main Authors: Chang Yu Jui, 張瑀芮
• Other Authors: Yu Shi Zong
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/35995769616255374115

碩士 === 大葉大學 === 工學院碩士在職專班 === 101 === The very limited world freshwater resources mean the uncertainty thereof has impact on the survival and economic development of human society. Despite abundant rainfall in Taiwan, rainwater retention remains challenging because of the temporal and spatial distribution of precipitation. Additionally, conventional ways of developing water resources are unable to guarantee steady water supply. These factors point to significant impact on Taiwan's society and economy in case of water shortages. This study, through data collection and analysis, investigates the feasibility of seawater desalination in Taiwan's development of water resources. Based on the state of water resources utilization in Taiwan, it is still difficult for seawater desalination to achieve commercial scale on the main island, but it has its advantages. Unlike the conventional way of developing reservoirs, seawater desalination has the advantages of reliable water sources, short construction periods, low land demand, low environmental impact, and high quality produced water. However, it requires much higher costs in comparison with reservoirs. The possible use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy instead of fuels such as petroleum and coal can reduce not only costs but also carbon footprint emissions. The government can thereby make sensible adjustments to water prices and calculate reasonable prices by taking into account the construction and eco costs of water sources for reservoirs. This author believes that it is possible to strike a balance between the costs of seawater desalination and water prices following the upward adjustment of the latter and the yearly decline in the former. Taiwan may attain sustainability through more effective water resources utilization if it can combine the development and use of seawater desalination with the existing ways of utilizing water resources.