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How come there isn't enough talk about desalinization? Or am I oversimplifying this? The western states are right next to an ocean (the largest one in fact) wi

by atonse 4y ago

How come there isn't enough talk about desalinization? Or am I oversimplifying this? The western states are right next to an ocean (the largest one in fact) with sea levels and the amount of water rising faster than they could ever use it. There's basically unlimited (salt) water there. Desalinization is an extremely energy hungry process, but we also have a TON of sun and heat energy in these states as well that can be utilized.

junofan 4y ago
The Coastal Act allows politicians to influence peddle. So you won’t hear from desalination experts in the popular press.
nobodyandproud 4y ago
Nimbyism. Huntington Beach is a prime example.
selimthegrim 4y ago
Santa Barbara built a plant in the early 90s then mothballed it for 30 years, then had to spend a packet to upgrade it for reuse. Probably they are afraid of some gigantic sunk cost like that happening.
- aYsY4dDQ2NrcNzA 4y ago
  23 years, but yeah. https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/departments/public-works/water-resources/water-system/water-sources/desalination https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/departments/public-wor...
atyppo 4y ago
Because nuclear energy is the only viable (with the ability to not be capital-intensive if NIMBYs can be excluded from processes like siting) energy option for a process as energy-intensive as desalinization is. However, there's no realistic hope of excluding them.
SECProto 4y ago
On an annualized basis, tapwater in San Francisco costs $3.68 per cubic meter[1], which is actually approaching the rate for desalination to be cost effective. (For agriculture, it still far far (far) away.) Traditional (distillation) desalination uses too much energy (10+ kWh per m3). Reverse osmosis plants drastically reduce that, to the 3kWh range[2]. From what I remember from my now-outdated university studies, the capital cost of the membrane was more the limiting factor, as they get fouled pretty quickly. Disposal of very-high-salinity brine is also an issue. [1] https://sfpuc.org/sites/default/files/accounts-and-services/2022_23_Rates_Schedule_Water_Sewer.pdf https://sfpuc.org/sites/default/files/accounts-and-services/... says ~$10.71/unit, with each unit being 768 gallons, or 2907 litres. (there's a lower rate for the first 4 unit, which I would guess is subsidized). 10.71/2.907=$3.68 [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis#Desalination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis#Desalination

by atonse 4y ago

junofan 4y ago

The Coastal Act allows politicians to influence peddle. So you won’t hear from desalination experts in the popular press.

nobodyandproud 4y ago

Nimbyism. Huntington Beach is a prime example.

selimthegrim 4y ago

Santa Barbara built a plant in the early 90s then mothballed it for 30 years, then had to spend a packet to upgrade it for reuse. Probably they are afraid of some gigantic sunk cost like that happening.

aYsY4dDQ2NrcNzA 4y ago
23 years, but yeah. https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/departments/public-works/water-resources/water-system/water-sources/desalination https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/departments/public-wor...

atyppo 4y ago

Because nuclear energy is the only viable (with the ability to not be capital-intensive if NIMBYs can be excluded from processes like siting) energy option for a process as energy-intensive as desalinization is. However, there's no realistic hope of excluding them.

SECProto 4y ago

On an annualized basis, tapwater in San Francisco costs $3.68 per cubic meter[1], which is actually approaching the rate for desalination to be cost effective. (For agriculture, it still far far (far) away.) Traditional (distillation) desalination uses too much energy (10+ kWh per m3). Reverse osmosis plants drastically reduce that, to the 3kWh range[2]. From what I remember from my now-outdated university studies, the capital cost of the membrane was more the limiting factor, as they get fouled pretty quickly. Disposal of very-high-salinity brine is also an issue. [1] https://sfpuc.org/sites/default/files/accounts-and-services/2022_23_Rates_Schedule_Water_Sewer.pdf https://sfpuc.org/sites/default/files/accounts-and-services/... says ~$10.71/unit, with each unit being 768 gallons, or 2907 litres. (there's a lower rate for the first 4 unit, which I would guess is subsidized). 10.71/2.907=$3.68 [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis#Desalination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis#Desalination