Is Recovering Energy in Low Pressure RO Systems Worth It?

Is recovering energy in low pressure RO systems worth it? The energy consumption of RO process itself accounts for 80% of the overall energy consumption of the facility, and cost of energy accounts for approximately 50% of the annual operating costs. The economics would very much depend on the amount of energy that is recoverable and, more importantly, cost of energy. Depending on these two factors, the return on equity could range from 5 to >15%. This paper discusses case studies on this subject.