# The Synergy of Renewable Energy and Desalination:
## 6 Discussion  
It is essential to develop new techniques and improve existing ones in order to address the issues associated with desalination in a more sustainable way. In particular, the technologies need to tackle the problems of fouling, corrosion, and scaling. From the energy supply point of view, it is necessary to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to green energy. Massive penetration of renewable energy sources is among the possible solutions to drive the transition. On the other hand, among the most pressing issues in RES powered desalination are the reliability of power supply and energy efficiency. As was described in Section 3, the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources is one of the challenges that needs to be addressed. As shown in Section 4, the integration of hybrid battery storage system technologies presents a promising approach to overcoming the intermittent behavior of RES. For instance, solar and wind resources are inherently intermittent, which can lead to periods of low energy availability when the demand for desalination is high. By utilizing a hybrid battery system, excess energy generated during peak production times can be stored and released during periods of low generation, ensuring a continuous and reliable power supply for desalination processes. The application of a hybrid battery storage system is more reliable and efficient than the application of a heterogeneous battery storage system. Hybrid battery storage systems can combine different types of electrochemical batteries, such as NMC and LTO, to optimize performance and enhance reliability. NMCs are the kind of batteries that can efficiently power equipment of a desalination plant and have a respectable lifespan, high specific energy values, and good thermal resistance. Among the disadvantages of the NMC packs of batteries is that the batteries contain cobalt, which raises environmental issues, and the technology is quite expensive. LTO batteries can achieve effective electrochemical performance. They offer a high degree of thermal resistance and are safer than some other kinds of Li-ion batteries. They have a respectable cycle life and can withstand full charges and discharges. Also, these batteries are characterized by high power density compared to other batteries. By intelligently managing energy storage and release cycles, these systems can minimize energy losses associated with traditional desalination methods. To improve the operation of membranes and some of the thermal-based desalination technologies, it is important to pay attention to the operation of pumping units. As shown in Section 5, the selection of proper pumping units and system dimensioning are critical processes in determining the initial expenditure and long-term performance of the entire desalination system. Errors in CPPs' sizing can lead to higher excessive initial expenditures and can compromise the entire system's efficiency when the system cannot pump enough water to meet the expected flow or pressure level. Another possibility to decrease energy consumption and improve energy efficiency is the incorporation of ML technologies into energy management systems, which can further enhance operation reliability and energy efficiency. These technologies can analyze vast amounts of data in real time, allowing for predictive modeling and optimization of energy consumption patterns. For example, AI algorithms can forecast energy demand based on historical usage patterns and environmental variables, enabling the system to adjust its operations proactively. ANN offers adaptive learning in response to evolving conditions, such as seasonal weather shifts or gradual membrane degradation, which static models cannot accommodate. Convolutional neural networks have shown promise in processing spatial data such as satellite imagery for solar forecasting or sensor arrays monitoring pressure and temperature across desalination modules.