Decentralized Solar Powered Desalinization
Say that three times fast -
Yesterday, I met with another member of the Fraunhofer ISE working in a research group on PV power water desalinization (PV-D) systems. Even though this technology isn't directly under my research focus, solar power and water treatment are two things near and dear to my heart, so I couldn't resist learning more about this technology.
His research group did not focus on improving solar power systems or desalinization systems individually, but rather the integration of the two processes. I had never considered the difficulty in combining two systems not designed to work together and the importance of optimizing the combination. Some simple examples of necessary modifications are making the solar panels resistant to salt corrosion to withstand the seaside conditions. Optimize the pumps, one of the most energy intensive parts of desalinization, to run on the variable supply of electricity provided by solar is another modification they made.
More striking than the research was the difficulty in implementing the technology. From the sections of reports I read about the technology, water in some ways is an even harder nut to crack than energy. Since water supply throughout most of the world is seen as a human right, most developing countries provide major subsidies to provide cheap water to their citizens.
In one example he gave me, they were considering installing one of these systems on an Egyptian island in the Mediterranean. Since there was no natural supply of fresh water, all potable water needed to be brought by ships. The cost of bringing this water was about 10€/cubic meter ($0.05/gal). For reference, water in California is about $0.004/gal. The cost of water from the PV-D was about 7€/cubic meter ($0.35/gal), so it seems like the system could actually be implemented. However, the Egyptian government subsidizes almost the entire cost of the water. Water on the island can be purchased for only 0.1€/cubic meter ($0.0005/gal), making the PV-D water completely uncompetitive.
Government subsidizes make new water technologies very difficult to implement on the consumer level. Instead of going after the consumer market, it would be possible to convince government agencies that these new technologies will save them money. However, this presents a different set of issues and entrenched interests. Utility providers in all countries tend to be a cautious bunch preferring established, familiar technologies. If there is no financial or political incentive for the utilities to adopt new technologies, they will often stick with their familiar, albeit more expensive, options. However, there are more legitimate reason for sticking with established technologies other than laziness or resistance to change. In developing countries the technological know-how, or the supply chain for replacement parts may not exist to operate and maintain new technologies. Moreover, the number one goal of all water providers, especially in developing countries, is reliability since water shortages can quickly lead to widespread death and revolt.
This problem hits on a topic I have been considering more and more lately: implementation. Developing a superior, more sustainable technology is an enormous challenge, but unless the political and financial support can be garnered to implement the technology, it does little good to society. Implementation often proves to be a much greater and more nuanced challenge, than developing the technology.
There do remain a few niche markets such as upscale hotels on European islands in the mediterranean that could use the PV-D systems. A company called SolarSpring in Freiburg was spun out of the Fraunhofer ISE institute and I am trying to set up a meeting with the company CEO to learn about their success in implementing the PV-D systems. When I set up a meeting, I will report back with my findings. : )
Yesterday, I met with another member of the Fraunhofer ISE working in a research group on PV power water desalinization (PV-D) systems. Even though this technology isn't directly under my research focus, solar power and water treatment are two things near and dear to my heart, so I couldn't resist learning more about this technology.
His research group did not focus on improving solar power systems or desalinization systems individually, but rather the integration of the two processes. I had never considered the difficulty in combining two systems not designed to work together and the importance of optimizing the combination. Some simple examples of necessary modifications are making the solar panels resistant to salt corrosion to withstand the seaside conditions. Optimize the pumps, one of the most energy intensive parts of desalinization, to run on the variable supply of electricity provided by solar is another modification they made.
More striking than the research was the difficulty in implementing the technology. From the sections of reports I read about the technology, water in some ways is an even harder nut to crack than energy. Since water supply throughout most of the world is seen as a human right, most developing countries provide major subsidies to provide cheap water to their citizens.
In one example he gave me, they were considering installing one of these systems on an Egyptian island in the Mediterranean. Since there was no natural supply of fresh water, all potable water needed to be brought by ships. The cost of bringing this water was about 10€/cubic meter ($0.05/gal). For reference, water in California is about $0.004/gal. The cost of water from the PV-D was about 7€/cubic meter ($0.35/gal), so it seems like the system could actually be implemented. However, the Egyptian government subsidizes almost the entire cost of the water. Water on the island can be purchased for only 0.1€/cubic meter ($0.0005/gal), making the PV-D water completely uncompetitive.
Government subsidizes make new water technologies very difficult to implement on the consumer level. Instead of going after the consumer market, it would be possible to convince government agencies that these new technologies will save them money. However, this presents a different set of issues and entrenched interests. Utility providers in all countries tend to be a cautious bunch preferring established, familiar technologies. If there is no financial or political incentive for the utilities to adopt new technologies, they will often stick with their familiar, albeit more expensive, options. However, there are more legitimate reason for sticking with established technologies other than laziness or resistance to change. In developing countries the technological know-how, or the supply chain for replacement parts may not exist to operate and maintain new technologies. Moreover, the number one goal of all water providers, especially in developing countries, is reliability since water shortages can quickly lead to widespread death and revolt.
This problem hits on a topic I have been considering more and more lately: implementation. Developing a superior, more sustainable technology is an enormous challenge, but unless the political and financial support can be garnered to implement the technology, it does little good to society. Implementation often proves to be a much greater and more nuanced challenge, than developing the technology.
There do remain a few niche markets such as upscale hotels on European islands in the mediterranean that could use the PV-D systems. A company called SolarSpring in Freiburg was spun out of the Fraunhofer ISE institute and I am trying to set up a meeting with the company CEO to learn about their success in implementing the PV-D systems. When I set up a meeting, I will report back with my findings. : )
