Can Solar Water Desalination Cut Energy Expenses?

Can Solar Water Desalination Cut Energy Expenses?

Water, quite often, is taken for granted. Of course, most of us drink it and use it without much thought. It’s simply something that has always been “there”.  Of course, we likely don’t even focus on the fact that we need clean and fresh water, that it is critical for life. Water, quite often, is taken for granted. Of course, we hope, solar water desalination will help cut energy costs. 

Access To Quality Water

As a matter of fact, many people across the country and around the world simply don’t have access to the quality water they need. Of course, they struggle to maintain their health and their life because of it. Needless to say, providing water to those without access has proven challenging, but advancements have been made. Furthermore, we have learned to leverage the water we do have – that which comes from our oceans. 

Fortunately, over 70 percent of the earth’s surface is water. Of course, this has been shown to be a valuable resource, especially when desalination, the process of removing the salt from seawater, is viable. 

Water Energy

Of course, while this has proven incredibly valuable, the process does require energy. Also, the level of salt in the water directly correlates to the amount of energy needed.  Additionally, as we all know, energy is costly. Of course, considering that many of the areas that don’t have access to water are less developed and struggle economically,  the cost of desalination can be a roadblock; it is concerning. 

Solar Desalination

Of course, one answer to this problem may be solar desalination. Correspondingly, this process uses solar energy to transform unusable water and contaminated water into freshwater.  Additionally, Solar energy leverages the energy from the sun (a free resource). Moreover, when this energy is combined with desalination plants (which are inexpensive to produce and maintain and incredibly mobile) bringing clean water to less developed areas that don’t have access is not only possible, it’s also cost-effective. 

Similarly, a newer process focuses on Concentrating Solar Power (CSP). Uniquely, based on membrane or thermal processes, CSP allows desalination plants to operate continuously helping to provide drinkable and usable water to areas that desperately need it.

Of course, solar power may very well be the answer to the high cost associated with the energy expenses inherent in the desalination process. Of course, as progress continues to be made, so many benefit.

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What Are The Benefits Of Solar Water Desalination?

Solar Water Desalination: The Solution

One of the most vital issues in today’s world is access to clean, fresh drinking water. Very often, different regions suffer from a lack of this resource, which makes solar desalination a very important alternative solution. Solar-powered desalination is an environmentally friendly, highly efficient technique of treating seawater into drinking water, therefore tackling the global water crisis while protecting natural resources.

Let’s get into the types, benefits, and potential of solar desalination for communities and industries.

What is Solar Desalination?

Solar desalination is the process of removing salt and impurities from seawater using solar energy. By harnessing abundant and renewable solar energy, solar desalination systems provide a sustainable way to produce clean water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial use. These are especially useful in dry areas where traditional water purification methods are too expensive or not accessible.

Types of Solar Desalination

There are two main types of solar desalination systems, both use solar energy to power the desalination process:

  • Reverse Osmosis (RO): Solar-powered reverse osmosis systems use collected solar energy to drive high-pressure pumps to push seawater through a semipermeable membrane. This process efficiently removes salts, minerals, and impurities to provide clean, potable water, comprising one of the most efficient large-scale desalination methods.
  • Solar HDH (Humidification-Dehumidification): The HDH process involves using solar energy to heat seawater, turning it into vapor. The vapor is then condensed back into liquid form, leaving salt and impurities behind. This method is ideal for small-scale applications and locations with abundant sunlight.

Both methods use renewable solar energy so they are eco-friendly and cost-effective solutions for water scarcity.

Why is Solar Desalination Environmentally Friendly?

One of the major advantages of solar desalination is that it is environmentally friendly. It produces essentially zero carbon emissions, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. By utilizing renewable energy from the sun, it decreases the usage of fossil fuels in the plants, which makes it green and sustainable for water treatment.

Additionally, the use of solar-powered systems helps to protect natural freshwater resources and ecosystems, ensuring a balanced approach to water management.

Cost Benefits of Solar Water Desalination

Solar desalination systems are not only sustainable but also cost-effective. Key cost benefits include:

  • Free Energy Source: Solar energy being abundant and free reduces operational costs compared to traditional desalination methods that use electricity or fossil fuels.
  • Affordable Infrastructure: Solar desalination plants are cheap to build, maintain, and transport, making them ideal for rural or underdeveloped areas with limited resources.
  • Onshore and Offshore Flexibility: These can be set up onshore or offshore, adaptable to different regions while keeping costs low.

By combining affordability and scalability, solar desalination is a solution for both industrial and community water needs.

Benefits of Solar Desalination

Solar desalination has many benefits, making it a preferred choice for sustainable water production:

  • Unlimited Water Source: The oceans have unlimited water, so solar desalination is a reliable solution for long-term water needs.
  • Freshwater Conservation: By converting seawater into drinking water, solar desalination reduces the load on freshwater sources for future generations.
  • Supports Agriculture: Pure water from desalination systems supports agricultural communities by providing water to grow crops and sustain livelihoods.
  • Public Health: Solar desalination brings clean drinking water to underserved areas, improves public health, and reduces waterborne diseases.
  • Sustainability: Solar desalination aligns with global sustainability goals, offering a green solution that minimizes environmental impact.

Applications of Solar Desalination

Solar desalination systems can be deployed in many settings to address specific challenges. Some common applications include:

  • Remote Communities: Provides clean water in areas where traditional infrastructure is not available.
  • Disaster Relief: Emergency water supply during natural disasters like hurricanes and floods.
  • Agriculture: Irrigation for crops in dry areas.
  • Industrial Use: Pure water for industrial processes, reducing dependence on freshwater sources.

Future of Solar Desalination

As water scarcity becomes a global crisis, solar desalination systems will gain more adoption. Solar technology and desalination processes will get more efficient, affordable, and scalable.

With renewable energy transforming seawater into clean drinking water, solar desalination is a solution for water management. By investing in these systems, communities and industries can have a reliable water supply and protect the environment.

Why ADVANCEES for Solar Desalination?

At ADVANCEES, we design and manufacture solar desalination systems to meet our clients’ specific needs. We have expertise in RO technology and sustainability, delivering efficient, reliable, and eco-friendly water treatment solutions.

Contact ADVANCEES today to learn more about our innovative solar desalination systems and how they can help address your water challenges. Let’s build a sustainable future together.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
SEAWATER CONTAINERIZED REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM - 50,000 GPD

DRINKING WATER - MUNICIPALITY

This project was built to deliver treated water for all amenities (showers, kitchen, pools, restaurants and waterpark) in a 500 rooms hotel in a remote island.

DESIGN PARAMETERS
WATER SOURCE
Sea water well, chlorine free
TEMPERATURE
25 °C
FEED TDS
25,500 – 36,000 ppm
PRODUCT TDS
< 300 ppm
FEED FLOW
77.2 GPM
PRODUCT FLOW
34.7 GPM
OPERATING PRESSURE
848 PSI
RECOVERY RATE
45%

Single pass, single stage. Two pressure vessel total, that contains twelve (12) thin film membranes. The system it’s set to produce 50,000 US Gal/day of product water at 45% recovery.

The pre-treatment system consisted of four (4) media filters for removing suspended solids, iron and chlorine.

This containerized seawater desalination system was designed to fit and operate in a 20 ft ISO Container ready to ship and install.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
SEA WATER REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM - 100,000 GPD

DRINKING WATER - MUNICIPALITY

This project was built to deliver treated water for needed communities (approx. 3,200 people) where the municipal water service is deficient.

DESIGN PARAMETERS
WATER SOURCE
Sea water well, chlorine free
TEMPERATURE
25 °C
FEED TDS
25,500 – 36,000 ppm
PRODUCT TDS
< 390 ppm
FEED FLOW
154.2 GPM
PRODUCT FLOW
69.5 GPM
OPERATING PRESSURE
821 PSI
RECOVERY RATE
45%

For this project we delivered two (4) containerized sea water reverse osmosis systems, complete with pre-treatment, flush and post- treatment modules.

Each SWRO had a single pass, single stage, four (4) pressure vessel total, that contained twenty four (24) thin-film composite elements.

The system produces 100,000 GPD or 69.5.0 GPM of product water at 45% recovery.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
SEAWATER REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM - 400,000 GPD

DRINKING WATER - MUNICIPALITY

This project was built to deliver treated water for needed communities (approx. 12,000) where the municipal water service is deficient.

DESIGN PARAMETERS
WATER SOURCE
Seawater well, chlorine free
TEMPERATURE
25 °C
FEED TDS
25,500 – 36,000 ppm
PRODUCT TDS
< 390 ppm
FEED FLOW
617.0 GPM
PRODUCT FLOW
277.0 GPM
OPERATING PRESSURE
917 PSI
RECOVERY RATE
45%

For this project we delivered four (4) containerized seawater reverse osmosis systems, complete with pre-treatment, flush and post- treatment modules. Each system was installed and shipped in two (2) 40ft container.

Each SWRO had a single pass, single stage, fourteen (14) pressure vessel total, that contained ninety eight (98) thin-film composite elements.

The system produces 400,000 GPD or 277.0.0 GPM of product water at 45% recovery.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BRACKISH WATER REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM - 65,000 GPD

Industrial - irrigation

This project was built to deliver treated water to irrigate a golf course

DESIGN PARAMETERS
WATER SOURCE
Well, chlorine free
TEMPERATURE
28 °C
FEED TDS
<12,000 ppm
PRODUCT TDS
< 500 ppm
FEED FLOW
100.0 GPM
PRODUCT FLOW
45.0 GPM
OPERATING PRESSURE
300-350 PSI
RECOVERY RATE
40-45%

Single pass, single stage. Four (4) pressure vessel total, that contains twenty (20) LG NanoH2O membranes. The system it’s set to produce 65,000 US Gal/day of product water at 45% recovery.

This system was designed to  be shipped and transported in an anodized aluminum skid.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
SEAWATER REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM 100,000 GPD

DRINKING WATER

This project was built to deliver treated water for needed communities (approx. 4,000 people) where the municipal water service is deficient.

DESIGN PARAMETERS
WATER SOURCE
Sea water well, chlorine free
TEMPERATURE
25 °C
FEED TDS
25,500 – 36,000 ppm
PRODUCT TDS
< 390 ppm
FEED FLOW
154.2 GPM
PRODUCT FLOW
69.5 GPM
OPERATING PRESSURE
821 PSI
RECOVERY RATE
45%

For this project we delivered four (4) containerized sea water reverse osmosis systems, complete with pre-treatment, flush and post- treatment modules.

Each SWRO had a single pass, single stage, four (4) pressure vessel total, that contained twenty four (24) thin-film composite elements.

The system produces 100,000 GPD or 69.5.0 GPM of product water at 45% recovery.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
SOLAR BRACKISH WATER REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM - 50,000 GPD

DRINKING WATER

This project was built to provide potable water for a town where electricity is minimal and water scarcity is a big issue

DESIGN PARAMETERS
WATER SOURCE
Brackish well, chlorine free
TEMPERATURE
20-28 °C
FEED TDS
<1,000 ppm
PRODUCT TDS
< 300 ppm
FEED FLOW
51.0 GPM
PRODUCT FLOW
34.7 GPM
OPERATING PRESSURE
100-115 PSI
RECOVERY RATE
68%

Single pass, single stage. Two pressure vessel total, that contains eight (8) LG NanoH2O membranes. The system it’s set to produce 50,000 US Gal/day of product water at 68% recovery.

The pre-treatment system consisted of two (2) chemical injection pumps (chlorine and antiscalant) and three (3) media filters for removing suspended solids, iron and chlorine.

This system was designed to operate with solar energy and fit in a 20 ft ISO Container ready to ship, install and operate.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
SEA WATER REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM - 12,000 GPD

COMMERCIAL - HOTEL

In a remote island in Central America, the system provides water to a small - state of the art - hotel

DESIGN PARAMETERS
WATER SOURCE
Well, chlorine free
TEMPERATURE
25 °C
FEED TDS
25,500 – 36,000 ppm
PRODUCT TDS
< 390 ppm
FEED FLOW
21.9 GPM
PRODUCT FLOW
8.3 GPM
OPERATING PRESSURE
727 PSI
RECOVERY RATE
38%

Single pass, single stage. One pressure vessel total, that contains 3 thin-film composite elements in series. The system produces 45.4 m3/day (12,000 GPD or 8.3 GPM) of product water at 38% recovery.

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COMMERCIAL - IRRIGATION

This project was built to deliver treated water for an irrigation system in a farm

Single pass, single stage. Three (3) pressure vessel total, that contains twelve (12) LG NanoH2O membranes. The system it’s set to produce 65,000 US Gal/day of product water at 45% recovery.

The pre-treatment system consisted six (6) media filters for removing suspended solids.

This system was designed to  be shipped and transported in a aluminum skid.

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ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT

PHYSICAL DATA & DIMENSIONS :

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