IBM Solar Desalination system
Like many other energy-intensive uses, desalination plants (that turn salt water into fresh, potable water) have traditionally required fossil fuels for their operation, leaving a big carbon footprint. Accordingly, it makes sense that research and development efforts for a solar powered desalination system take advantage of solar energy advancements.
In sunny Saudi Arabia, IBM (International Business Systems) has partnered with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology to use energy from the ample desert sunlight to power a desalination plant. Current plans call for a plant to be constructed in Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia. It would have the capacity of pumping 7.9 million gallons of water daily, which can meet the potable water needs of 100,000 people. A pilot project is projected to be complete by the end of 2010.
Saudi Arabia at dusk
New solar technology will be employed, as well, for the solar powered desalination system. A 10 megawatt (MW) solar farm will be built, with the capacity of magnifying UV light striking each solar cell by a factor of 1500. To put that number into perspective, that is triple the magnification of current solar systems! To manage the extremely hot temperatures, IBM plans to use a liquid metal thermal interface to keep the desalination system running.
Stay tuned for more information this year – certainly many more regions of the world could benefit from this solar technology!
Tags: desalination plants, desalination system, IBM, potable water, PV arrays, saudi arabia, solar energy advancements, solar powered desalination
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