Techno-Economic Analysis of Small-Scale Reverse Osmosis Desalination for Likupang Tourism Area

Maria Anindita Nauli; Harwin; Kezia Rambu Durry

doi:10.56741/IISTR.esl.001698

Authors

Maria Anindita Nauli
maria.anindita@calvin.ac.id
Calvin Institute of Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8787-3412
Harwin Calvin Institute of Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1059-0779
Kezia Rambu Durry Calvin Institute of Technology

Keywords:

Fresh Water, Reverse Osmosis, Techno-Economic, Tourism Area

Abstract

Likupang, a Super Priority Tourism Destination in Indonesia, faces significant challenges in securing a reliable and affordable fresh water supply, currently depending on expensive trucked-in water. This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of a small-scale Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination system to address this issue. Using DuPont’s WAVE Water Treatment Design software, three distinct operational scenarios (A = 50, B = 80, and C = 90 m³/day capacities) were designed and simulated to accommodate the fluctuating water demand characteristic of a tourism area. The technical analysis identified the 80 m³/day demand-responsive scenario as the most energy-efficient, with a Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) of 3.73 kWh/m³. Meanwhile, the economic evaluation, based on the Levelized Cost of Water (LCOW), determined that the most cost-effective strategy is Scenario A with an LCOW of 60,766 IDR/m³. This cost is significantly lower than the current market price of trucked-in water, demonstrating that small-scale RO desalination is a viable and economically competitive solution to support sustainable tourism development in Likupang.

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Author Biographies

Maria Anindita Nauli, Calvin Institute of Technology

Chemical and Food Processing Study Program

Harwin, Calvin Institute of Technology

Chemical and Food Processing Study Program

Kezia Rambu Durry, Calvin Institute of Technology

Chemical and Food Processing Study Program (student)

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