Desalination by using alternative energy: Review and state-of-the-art

Energy is a critical parameter for economic and of vital importance in social and industrial development, as it is also quality water. Numerous low-density population areas lack not only fresh water availability, but in most of the cases electrical grid connection or any other energy source as well, except for renewable energy sources, mostly referring to solar radiation. For these regions desalination is a moderate solution for their needs. In using RE desalination there are two separate and different technologies involved: energy conversion and desalination systems. The real problem in these technologies is the optimum economic design and evaluation of the combined plants in order to be economically viable for remote or arid regions. Conversion of renewable energies, including solar, requires high investment cost and though the intensive R&D effort technology is not yet enough mature to be exploited through large-scale applications. This paper presents a review of the highlights that have been achieved during the recent years and the state-of-the-art for most important efforts in the field of desalination by renewable energies, with emphasis on solar energy applications.