Prospects of Utilization of Solar Energy for Thermal Desalination Technologies
Abstract
Energy is an important component of social and economic development. At a time when global reserves of fossil fuels are decreasing, resulting in a threat to the long term sustainability of the global economy, solar energy is an ecologically friendly alternative that can deliver national energy security. Population growth increases the demand on drinking water availability. The global desalination capacity is expected to increase significantly in the future. Furthermore, the locations that require fresh water are more likely to be disconnected from an electrical power grid. Desalination based on renewable energies is a promising solution for such locations. This paper presents a survey of the characteristics of the solar powered thermal distillation machinery that have been tested globally under different conditions. It will also discuss the latest academic work on improving the technical and economic strength of solar powered thermal desalination processes. The main focus of this study will be on technology that could be integrated with solar thermal energy systems.