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| Solar desalination plant, California, Source: Cole Mellino, EcoWatch |
Solar desalination plant and technique is simply to convert any salty water to usable water by solar energy. The seawater and solar available for desalination which can be used for drinking or agriculture or for industrial uses where saltiest water cannot be used. The Great Aristotle told this method during 4 BC, by heating and evaporating the non-potable sale water and vapor collected as potable water. Alexander the Great used the same technique during the voyage in ships during 200 AD.
Around the world, 125 countries are adopting solar desalination technology for drinking water and agricultural uses.
Middle East 53.5 %
North America 17 %
Asian Countries 10.7 %
Europe 10.1 %
Central and South America 02 %
Australia 0.5 %
Methods of Solar Desalination
The direct method, a distilling mechanism connected with a solar collector and in a simple cycle method, the salt water converted to usable water.
The second method, an array of solar collector consisting of photovoltaic and or fluid based thermal collectors and conventional separate desalination plant. The reverse osmosis [RO] and photovoltaic panels system available for commercial use from the year 2009 onwards. In the second method, water is cheaper when the production is increased. An average of 200 Liters water can filter in one square meter Photovoltaic panel processor in a day. This method largely used for agriculture in arid countries and acute shortage of drinking groundwater countries. Around the world, 750 million people are not drinking or not using clean water at this stage. This may go up 1.9 billion in next 8 to 10 years.
Top Countries Using Solar Desalination
The top four countries using Solar Desalination drinking water around the world:
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| Largest Solar Powered Desalination Plant, Saudi Arabia, |
1. Saudi Arabia – is the largest desalination water producer in the world and leader in this process for a long time. In Al Khafiji, the largest solar photovoltaic plant installed and working successfully in the Desert Nation. By 2019, Saudi Arabia wants to convert all its plant run by solar energy. In other words, shift towards solar desalination.
2. Israel – the desert land is the pioneer in water conservation technology. The 80 to 85 % of the wastewater recycled in Israel. The country is planning to use recycled water minimum 55% for agriculture purpose. By installing, processing, and selling their solar desalination technology, 300 more companies earn nearly $ 2.5 Billion per annum.
3. California – is one of the largest user and 17 plants installed in California. One of the largest independent water producers is WaterFX in California, making several initiatives and kind of researches to supply good water. California uses the water for agri-business and for commercial uses.
4. South Asia – South India one of largest solar plant installed and produces 37 million cubic meters of water per annum in one plant, and the second plant produces 100 million liters of seawater. This is to mainly to take care of drinking and for commercial uses.
The initial cost is one of the worrying factors in these solar desalination processes. At the cost of USD 1.5 to 2.0 per cubic meter of water produced. The cost varies depending upon the technology used and output made. Israel’s Hadera plant make at a cost of USD 0.65 to 0.50.
Like Mobile towers, internet connection, the Solar Desalination Plants are inevitable in any country. Just planting one tree, one person, and one year will solve this problem. Green the earth and Green your life.
