An economic assessment was conducted to calculate the unit cost of treated water based on energy consumption and system productivity. Figure 5 compares the developed solar technologies against conventional piped water and truck-delivered alternatives. The cost analysis uses the Lima residential electricity rate (0.793 USD/kWh) as the reference cost. The plant operates with a total installed solar capacity of 2.1 kW over an average of 10 hours per day. The unit cost was derived as follows: Daily Energy Consumption: $2.1 kW x10 h/day = 21 kWh/day Daily Energy Cost: 21 kWh/day x 0.793 USD/kWh = 16.65 USD/day Unit Water Cost: ($16.65 USD/day) / (9 m3/day ) = 1.85 USD/m3 The calculated cost of 1.85 USD/m³ represents the energy-related component of the operation. This is highly competitive compared to truck-delivered water in the study area (5–7 USD/m³), though it remains higher than the piped network rate (0.8 USD/m³). This comparison demonstrates that dependence on centralized infrastructure is a major bottleneck for development in isolated communities, mining operations, and agriculture. The proposed technology transforms renewable resources into accessible critical assets, eliminating dependence on the grid and fuel transport. This approach not only reduces operational costs and carbon footprints but also enables 'autonomous habitability' and enhanced water security which will enhance the competitiveness of industrial enterprises
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