The day is coming when membrane technologies for hitherto unthinkable purposes, such as rural water supply in Africa, will be competitive with the ever more difficult search for conventional supplies. The key element is energy, and these authors argue that renewable energy from the sun is not being given enough attention by governments, developers and consultants. To date, considerable research into renewable desalination has been done, but the potential benefits of using renewable energy systems do not seem to have been completely recognized and explored. However, governments, developers and consultants have to understand that the future of the desalination process will be closely connected to the integration of renewable energy systems. This article first appeared in the February/March issue of Desalination & Water Reuse magazine.
The day is coming when membrane technologies for hitherto unthinkable purposes, such as rural water supply in Africa, will be competitive with the ever more difficult search for conventional supplies. The key element is energy, and these authors argue that renewable energy from the sun is not being given enough attention by governments, developers and consultants.
To date, considerable research into renewable desalination has been done, but the potential benefits of using renewable energy systems do not seem to have been completely recognized and explored. However, governments, developers and consultants have to understand that the future of the desalination process will be closely connected to the integration of renewable energy systems.
This article first appeared in the February/March issue of Desalination & Water Reuse magazine.