Solar desalination: Cases, synthesis, and challenges

Abstract

Desalination will become an increasingly important water resource to supply a growing world population that will face greater water scarcity in the coming decades. Desalination processes are energy-intensive and currently rely on fossil fuels that contribute to global warming and exacerbate the planet's water woes. Solar power, as a low-carbon energy resource, can reduce desalination's environmental footprint. However, there are many logistical considerations to take into account when planning solar desalination projects. This paper examines six of these issues, which include: (a) the spatial distribution of solar energy and saline water, (b) modeling tools to measure the financial feasibility of solar powered desalination plants, (c) community approval, (d) interconnection policies for solar desalination plants connected to the regional grid, (e) combining solar energy with other renewable energy sources, and (f) potential carbon savings from switching to solar energy. The paper will conduct its analysis through four key case studies in El Paso, Texas, Abilene, Texas, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Denmark, Australia. The paper concludes with a discussion on how improved solar technology will further the economic prospects of solar desalination and an analysis of brine disposal options that include siting seawater desalination operations in waters with high circulation and explaining how brine harvesting could lead to useful economic mineral products such as sodium, chlorine, potassium, and magnesium. This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water K E Y W O R D S desalination, solar energy, water-energy nexus

The nexus between Egyptian renewable energy resources and economic growth for achieving sustainable development goals

“…It was considered using oil more as it is accessible and if it was manageable to burn by the amount needed to provide the demand of water by the people but after considering the vitality of the CO 2 levels and the greenhouse effect oil usage eliminated, Karim et al [ 8 ]. Delgado et al [ 3 ] stated that one of the RE sources that are used in the process is solar desalination as it is used in to produce fresh water by stimulating rain which is the number one provider of fresh water. Moreover, solar radiation makes water of the sea evaporate then the water rises, moved by the winds and cools down.…”

Direct laser writing carbonization of polyimide films enabled multilayer structures for the use in interfacial solar-driven water evaporation

“…Solar energy-based seawater desalination technologies [1][2][3][4] possess inherent advantages of sustainability, environmental friendliness, and relatively low-operational cost. Among different approaches of utilizing solar energy for generating fresh water from seawater, interfacial solar-driven water evaporation has drawn much attention in recent years because of its promising potential in building compact, stand-alone and portable water purication systems.…”