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Global applicability of solar desalination

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  • Pugsley, Adrian
  • Zacharopoulos, Aggelos
  • Mondol, Jayanta Deb
  • Smyth, Mervyn

Abstract

Over-exploited fresh water resources, fossil-fuel depletion and climate change all highlight need for desalination powered by renewable energy. This study briefly reviews literature on solar desalination technologies and examines economic and environmental feasibility. The maturest technology appears to be reverse osmosis driven by photovoltaics. Many studies refer to apparent spatial coincidences of water scarcity, solar energy abundance and saline water availability, but none examine the phenomenon objectively from a global perspective. This study proposes a method for correlating international data on water scarcity and stress, saline water resources, and insolation levels, to calculate rank scores (0 ≤ R ≤ 1) which identify where solar desalination is most applicable. Low scores (R < 0.125) occur in landlocked nations with limited saline groundwater resources (Nepal, Bolivia, South Sudan) and near polar regions where fresh water is abundant and solar insolation levels are low (Canada, Russia and Scandinavia). High scores (R > 0.422) occur in 30 nations, including Middle Eastern and North African countries where fossil fuelled desalination is commonplace, and solar desalination has obvious applicability. The analysis identifies 28 further countries (including parts of USA, China, India, Indonesia, Australia, and countries throughout Africa, Asia, South America and Europe) where 0.273 < R < 0.422 scores indicate that other, less obvious, solar desalination opportunities exist.

Suggested Citation

  • Pugsley, Adrian & Zacharopoulos, Aggelos & Mondol, Jayanta Deb & Smyth, Mervyn, 2016. "Global applicability of solar desalination," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 200-219.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:88:y:2016:i:c:p:200-219
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.11.017
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    12. Guo, Chenglong & Zhao, Jiaxu & Zhang, Wenting & Miao, Endong & Xie, Yuhang, 2020. "Constructing 3D optical absorption holes by stacking macroporous membrane for highly efficient solar steam generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 944-953.
    13. Duvenhage, D. Frank & Brent, Alan C. & Stafford, William H.L., 2019. "The need to strategically manage CSP fleet development and water resources: A structured review and way forward," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 813-825.
    14. Calise, Francesco & d’Accadia, Massimo Dentice & Vicidomini, Maria, 2019. "Optimization and dynamic analysis of a novel polygeneration system producing heat, cool and fresh water," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1331-1347.
    15. Prado de Nicolás, Amanda & Molina-García, Ángel & García-Bermejo, Juan Tomás & Vera-García, Francisco, 2023. "Desalination, minimal and zero liquid discharge powered by renewable energy sources: Current status and future perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    16. Ihsan Ullah & Mohammad G. Rasul, 2018. "Recent Developments in Solar Thermal Desalination Technologies: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-31, December.
    17. De Angelis, Paolo & Tuninetti, Marta & Bergamasco, Luca & Calianno, Luca & Asinari, Pietro & Laio, Francesco & Fasano, Matteo, 2021. "Data-driven appraisal of renewable energy potentials for sustainable freshwater production in Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    18. David Katz & Arkadiy Shafran, 2019. "Transboundary Exchanges of Renewable Energy and Desalinated Water in the Middle East," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-21, April.
    19. Garg, Kapil & Khullar, Vikrant & Das, Sarit K. & Tyagi, Himanshu, 2018. "Performance evaluation of a brine-recirculation multistage flash desalination system coupled with nanofluid-based direct absorption solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 140-151.
    20. Yu, Xiyu & Huang, Maoquan & Wang, Xinyu & Sun, Qie & Tang, G.H. & Du, Mu, 2022. "Toward optical selectivity aerogels by plasmonic nanoparticles doping," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 741-751.
    21. Giwa, Adewale & Yusuf, Ahmed & Dindi, Abdallah & Balogun, Hammed Abiodun, 2020. "Polygeneration in desalination by photovoltaic thermal systems: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    22. Calise, Francesco & Cappiello, Francesco Liberato & Vanoli, Raffaele & Vicidomini, Maria, 2019. "Economic assessment of renewable energy systems integrating photovoltaic panels, seawater desalination and water storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.

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