Decentralized desalination of brackish water by a directly coupled reverse-osmosis-photovoltaic-system - A pilot plant study in Jordan

Fresh water is scarce in the Kingdom of Jordan. The situation is aggravated by a fast growing population and an increasing per-capita consumption of water. Desalination of brackish water can solve this problem at least partially, since, especially in Jordan, larger sources of brackish water exist. Since Jordan has few fossil fuel sources of its own, it seems to be important combining brackish water desalination with renewable energy sources. Such a concept is especially promising in cases of smaller capacities. However, there is a lack of experience with small-scale, decentralized desalination plants powered by renewable energies. Therefore, an investigation of the technical feasibility and a cost benefit analysis of a brackish water small-scale desalination plant in a rural area has been being carried out. It revealed the best socio-economic performance for a reverse osmosis directly coupled with a photovoltaic-system. In Phase II of this project a pilot plant with a fresh water capacity of 40 m(3)/d consisting of a directly coupled reverse-osmosis-photovoltaic-system will be realized in Qatar (Jordan). This pilot plant study is financed by the Ministry of Science and Research of the German State North Rhine Westfalia. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.