Design of an Integral Simulation Model for Solar-Powered Seawater Desalination in Coastal Communities: A Case Study in Manaure, La Guajira, Colombia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This manuscript presents a simulation-based approach for designing a solar-powered desalination system to address water scarcity in the coastal community of Manaure, La Guajira, Colombia. The study integrates tools like HOMER Pro, IMSdesign, and MATLAB to evaluate economic, environmental, and human health impacts. While the topic is relevant and aligns with global sustainability goals, the manuscript has several areas requiring improvement before the article can be accepted for publication.

1. The manuscript needs a clearer comparison of its novelty with existing desalination models. Many studies already integrate renewable energy with desalination; the authors should clarify how their approach adds unique insights or advancements.

2. The decision to focus on solar energy should be justified with a comparison to other renewable energy sources like wind, especially given La Guajira's high wind energy potential. Also, specific details about the parameters used in IMSdesign and HOMER Pro should be included.

3. The manuscript includes numerous figures (14 totally, e.g., simulation results, flow diagrams), many of which are poorly labeled or lack sufficient explanation. Consider moving some of them, along with secondary discussions, to the Supplementary Information (SI).

4. The focus of the discussion in the article could be adjusted to enhance clarity and relevance. For example, the introduction is too broad and spends unnecessary time on general desalination concepts. It would be more effective to focus on the specific challenges faced by Manaure and how the proposed model addresses them. Additionally, while the potential risks of brine disposal are mentioned, they are not analyzed quantitatively.

5. Setting benchmarks is crucial for context and comparison. For instance, in Section 3.3.3, Simulation of the Electrical Supply System, the manuscript mentions a 'pumping power value of 5.91 kWh/m³.' How does this value compare to other renewable-powered desalination systems? Please include relevant references to provide context and support this comparison.

6. How feasible is it to generalize your model from a local to a global scale for similar coastal communities? For instance, to what extent would the parameters need to be adjusted to account for variations in water quality and geographic contexts?

Author Response

The answers can be found in the attached document, thank you very much.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The reviewer would like to thank the authors for presenting the manuscript "Design of an integral simulation model for solar-powered seawater desalination in coastal communities: a case study in Manaure, La Guajira, Colombia". This is a very important study as it attempts to find a safe and cheap solution for obtaining fresh water in regions with scarcity. The reviewer recommends adopting the attached suggestions to increase quality of the manuscript as well as improving understanding of it.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

The answers can be found in the attached document, thank you very much.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The reviewer would like to thank the authors for submitting this new version of the manuscript "Design of an integral simulation model for solar-powered marine water desalination in coastal communities: a case study in Manaure, La Guajira, Colombia". The reviewer appreciated the authors' adoption of most of the suggestions/corrections suggested in the first version. The new version makes reading much easier and improves your understanding of the very important subject you studied.