Solar-Powered Seawater Desalination Research Contract Signed in Abu Dhabi

[nationalize the fed]

At the World Future Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, a research contract to study seawater desalination using solar power was signed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, GDF SUEZ and SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT in the presence of Ségolène Royal, French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. The contract provides for a study of possible use of 100% solar power to desalinate seawater, a feat that would be a world premiere.

This project is part of a contract signed in June 2014 by the SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT subsidiary Degrémont to construct a pilot seawater desalination plant potentially powered by 100% renewable energy and with minimal environmental impact. The challenge is important for a region experiencing strong economic development, with limited water resources.

Given heavy energy consumption involved in the desalination process, the use of solar energy to power seawater desalination plants is a major technical and economic challenge, even though over the past 15 years significant progress has been made in cutting the energy required in half. GDF SUEZ and SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT have for years positioned themselves in the region for these questions.

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, world leader in seawater desalination using reverse osmosis through its subsidiary Degrémont, is a major player in the Middle East in water treatment and desalination. Following the construction and operation of water treatment plants in Jordan, Degrémont completed the 5th expansion of the Doha West wastewater treatment plant, as well as wastewater treatment plants at Barwa City and Lusail in Qatar. The company recently supplied and installed 33 modular desalination units for treating brackish water at Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)...
http://www.pollutionsolutions-online.com/news/water-wastewater/17/suez_environnement/solar-powered_seawater_desalination_research_contract_signedin_abu_dhabi/33169/


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_desalination

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination#Existing_facilities_and_facilities_under_construction

In Australia many desalination plants are utilizing wind farms to produce enough energy to operate nearby desalination plants. For example, the Kurnell Desalination Plant, with a capacity of producing 250 million liters (ML) of drinking water per day, supplies 15% of Sydney’s water needs via RO technology and is powered using “100 percent renewable energy” from the 140 MW Capital Wind Farm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawater_desalination_in_Australia

An Introduction to the Carlsbad CA Desalination Plant Project

[NYC_SKP]

1. Desalination Claptrap. I've been to the Carlsbad Desal Plant, it's pretty cool.

It's right next to a Natural Gas plant which consumes a lot of sea water, so the sea water is already being gobbled up.

And desal is so energy-intensive, it's "smart" to be near a source of electricity.

Of course, the Carlsbad Poseidon desal plant is NOT solar.

I am, however, happy that with more water they'll steal less from the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta waterways and farms.

[nationalize the fed]

2. You're full of #Claptrap. It's boring. Have fun with your nattering nabobs of negativity

Leave the future to those that think the best is yet to come, why not. We'll build it, and you can stop by, or, preferably not.

Begin Ignore Sequence Now

[NYC_SKP]

3. Other readers need facts, not horsefeathers. Nothing's free, my friend. Conserve water. The End.

Hydrogen claptrap, Desalination claptrap, always made to look rosie and green because it will all be solar or wind powered.

Bullshit, it still uses up tons of energy and resources and only allows us to carry on with our wasteful ways.

Here's Sand Diego and Orange County water facts for ya:

http://www.trbimg.com/img-54598b8e/turbine/la-me-g-high-california-water-20141104/750/750x422

I use around 50 gallons per day, myself.

Energy intensive, environmentally harmful, desalination is claptrap for lazy dreamers who cannot or will not see the truth.

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/drought/conservation_reporting_info.shtml

[NYC_SKP]

4. Waste of money. We already have solar powered desalination technology.

No need for electricity, and very little disruption to the environment.

I bought one of these during an event at Fort Mason, SF, called West Coast Green:

http://www.watercone.com/product.html

[Nihil]

5. Not wishing to derail this thread but thanks for posting that image and link.

The Watercone seems an absolutely great product!

[NYC_SKP]

6. Sometimes simple is better!

And in this case, that fact that it takes a little effort for the person to use it means that they will really honor the substance as they should.

Sadly, that water that comes from the Carlsbad and other plants will go into the same domestic drinking water distribution where it can be used by citizens to wash their SUVs, hose down their driveways, and waste in other ways.

My biggest concern, however, is how abundance might drive more growth in a place already importing 90% of it's water.

Anyway, yeah, the cone is cool. I've used it and it's now in a teacher friend's classroom.

[NickB79]

7. I hope they're not talking just about drinking water, which is a tiny component of water needed

Here's how the US uses it's freshwater supplies:



Domestic water consumption, which would encompass drinking water, only comprises 8.5% of total water use.

And when you break down domestic water consumption more fully:



You see that drinking water is around 16% of that.

Drinking water only constitutes 1.36% of all water used in the US.