Energy and Renewable Energy

Desalination Energy Requirements

Desalination by any process involves energy. The exact energy amount depends on the temperature and the amount of salt in the water. Higher salt concentrations require more energy. Thus, energy costs go up with each recovery reiteration. As a bit of water is removed and purified, the rest of the water has a higher salt concentration and so, it will require more energy to separate the next unit of water.

Most of the energy needed for desalination is for pressurizing water for membrane desalination, and heating or freezing water for thermal methods.

See more information on energy efficiency and use in desalination.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources may operate individually or in a hybrid configuration to fit your water desalination needs: from small to large scale processes, coastal to rural regions, and thermal to electrical-driven processes. (Print out a handout for renewable energy pdf)

. showing a solar panel for desalination

Science and Technology Program Projects

ID	Title	Start	End	Contact
2326	Investigating the Opportunity for Wind-Powered Desalination in Arizona	2008	2008	Tom Poulson
9081	Optimization of Energy Recovery Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination Systems	2005	2009	Steve Dundorf

Desalting and Water Purification Research Program Reports

Report Title	Performing Agency	Date	Report #	See also
Energy Efficiency
Reduced Energy Consumption Evaporator for Use in Desalting Impaired Waters	Water Reuse Technology; Alamo CA	Dec-94	11	Thermal
Desalination Research and Development Workshop Report	National Water Research Institute; Fountain Valley, CA; USBR; Denver, CO	Jan-01	64	Decision Support
Improving the Thermodynamic and Economic Efficiencies of Desalination Plants: Minimum Work Required for Desalination and Case Studies of Four Working Plants	University of Nevada; Reno, NV	Nov-03	78	Ancillary Improvements, Decision Support, Case Studies
Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis Desalination System	ITN Energy Systems, Inc.; Littleton, CO	May-04	104
Renewable Energy
Halophyte Crops and a Sand-Bed Solar Concentrator to Reduce and Recycle Industrial, Desalination and Agricultural Brines	University of Arizona; Tucson AZ; Texas A&M University; El Paso TX	Dec-98	35	Solar Facilitated Concentrate Management
Thermal Desalination Using MEMS & Salinity-Gradient Solar Pond Technology	University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso, TX	Aug-02	80	Thermal Energy from Solar Ponds
Solar and Waste Heat Desalination by Membrane Distillation	University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso, TX	Apr-04	81	Thermal Energy from Solar Ponds
Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis Desalination System	ITN Energy Systems, Inc.; Littleton, CO	May-04	104	Renewable Energy - Photovoltaic
Wind-Powered Reverse Osmosis Water Desalination for Pacific Islands and Remote Coastal Communities	University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu HI	Apr-09	128
Wind Power and Water Desalination Technology Integration	Texas Tech University; Lubbock TX	Jul-09	146