Intelligent Energy -Water Nexus Systems for Sustainable Desalination: Artificial Intelligence, Renewable Energy Coupling, and Sustainable Process Design

This book offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary exploration of how artificial intelligence and renewable energy technologies are transforming the desalination sector to meet the growing global demand for water while reducing environmental impact. Bridging fundamental science, computational methods, and real-world engineering practice, it addresses the full spectrum of the energy–water nexus—from thermodynamic principles and membrane technologies to machine learning-driven optimization, digital twins, and autonomous plant operation. Organized into six thematic parts, the book progresses from the foundations of desalination and renewable energy integration, through AI and computational methods, system-level coupling and simulation, intelligent materials and operations, environmental sustainability, and finally industrial case studies and future perspectives. Readers will gain insight into predictive modelling, reinforcement learning-based control, fouling management, energy recovery, brine valorisation through circular economy approaches, and the policy and governance frameworks shaping sustainable water infrastructure. Featuring contributions from leading researchers and practitioners, and enriched with case studies spanning multiple regions and technologies, this book provides: •    A rigorous grounding in the thermodynamics and engineering of thermal and membrane desalination systems •    State-of-the-art AI and machine learning techniques applied to process forecasting, optimization, and digital monitoring •    Practical strategies for coupling desalination with intermittent renewable energy sources, including storage and buffering solutions •    Emerging approaches in smart materials, predictive maintenance, and Industry 4.0 integration •    Analysis of environmental, economic, and policy dimensions essential to sustainable deployment •    International case studies illustrating real-world implementation and lessons learned This book is a valuable resource for researchers, graduate students, and professionals in chemical and environmental engineering, water resource management, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence, as well as policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking to advance smart, sustainable desalination solutions.