THE APPLICATION OF SOLAR-ENERGY FOR LARGE-SCALE SEAWATER DESALINATION

Seawater desalination and solar energy collection systems suitable for large scale regional water supply projects are described and their economics analyzed. Four potential combinations of these systems, within 100,000 m3/d plants, are discussed and compared. The combination of solar pond and low temperature multi-effect distillation (LT-MED) provides the lowest solar desalinated water costs. These range from 67-88 cents, depending on interest rate, local insolation. actual pond cost and performance, and are competitive with lowest cost desalinated water from a fossil fueled plant, an LT-MED wi thin an electric power cogeneration scheme, when heavy fuel (No. 6) prices are above $150-220/ton.