Modern solar desalination systems leverage photovoltaic arrays to power reverse osmosis or membrane distillation technologies, achieving production capacities of up to 50,000 cubic meters per day in large-scale installations.
So this paper reviews the photovoltaic (PV) system-powered desalination technologies as stand-alone systems or hybrid systems in the last decade, and this review includes the technologies of reverse osmosis (RO), electrodialysis (ED), reverse electrodialysis (RED), and membrane distillation (MD).
Therefore, this paper aimed to review studies and research during the past ten years to explore the extent of development in the use of the photovoltaic conversion system powered by desalination plants using reverse osmosis (RO), electrodialysis (ED), reverse electrodialysis (RED), and membrane distillation (MD).
Is solar-powered desalination possible?
Solar-powered desalination is becoming more feasible thanks to advancements in next-generation photovoltaic technologies. Perovskite-based panels and tandem solar cells, which have higher conversion efficiencies than conventional silicon cells, can potentially lower the cost and environmental impact of solar energy systems.
How does a solar desalination system work?
Modern solar desalination systems leverage photovoltaic arrays to power reverse osmosis or membrane distillation technologies, achieving production capacities of up to 50,000 cubic meters per day in large-scale installations.
Moreover, this paper provides an overview of PV-powered desalination systems, which are mechanical processes powered by solar energy. Therefore, they are quite suitable to be integrated with desalination processes that entirely or partially consume electricity, such as RO, ED, MD, and even solar distillation systems.
Should solar power be integrated with desalination methods?
This review studies the benefits of integrating PV solar power with desalination methods such as solar stills, humidification-dehumidification, reverse osmosis, membrane distillation, multi-effect distillation, and flash for multi-stage.