Measurements of the performance of the experimental salt-gradient solar pond at Makkah one year after commissioning

This work describes an experimental investigation of the Makkah solar pond which was constructed in 2015 on the campus of Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The present work demonstrates the technical viability of solar pond technology in the Middle East and discusses the results of measurements taken over a period of one year. The objective of the project is to optimally manage the pond for high thermal and mechanical efficiencies.