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Realizing the promise of concentrating solar power for thermal desalination: A review of technology configurations and optimizations

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  • Khan, Muhammad Imran
  • Asfand, Faisal
  • Al-Ghamdi, Sami G.
  • Bicer, Yusuf
  • Khan, Mushtaq
  • Farooq, Muhammad
  • Pesyridis, Apostolos

Abstract

The global freshwater crisis poses an existential threat to sustainable development worldwide. Desalination has emerged as a critical solution, but conventional fossil-fuel plants are energy-intensive and emit substantial greenhouse gases. Concentrating solar power (CSP) offers a promising renewable pathway to drive thermal desalination processes. However, CSP-desalination integration requires thoughtful system configuration design to maximize efficiency. This review consolidates insights from diverse case studies worldwide, highlighting the merits of CSP-desalination integration, such as significantly improved energy efficiency and sustainability through the utilization of renewable solar energy and enabling multi-generation systems for combined electricity, water, and heating services. The review's novelty lies in its systematic assessment of modeling simulations, pilot facilities, and commercial plants to elucidate key learnings on technical configurations and optimizations. It also proposes innovative configurations to enhance system efficiency and performance. The review identifies and analyzes optimization strategies employed in the reviewed case studies, including the role of thermal storage for 24-h operation, cogeneration for enhanced energy utilization, and multi-generation systems for combined electricity, water, and heating services. Recognizing the growing interest in hybrid systems, this review specifically examines the integration of thermal and membrane desalination processes driven by CSP, highlighting potential synergies and performance enhancements. The review provides a critical assessment of the diverse case demonstrations proving the technical viability of concentrated solar desalination under proper design conditions. It offers valuable insights on configurations that maximize renewable energy utilization and minimize water costs tailored to local ambient and operational parameters. Furthermore, it provides a forward-looking perspective by exploring the application of supercritical CO2 cycles in CSP-desalination systems, examining their potential for high-temperature heat supply without compromising power generation efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Khan, Muhammad Imran & Asfand, Faisal & Al-Ghamdi, Sami G. & Bicer, Yusuf & Khan, Mushtaq & Farooq, Muhammad & Pesyridis, Apostolos, 2025. "Realizing the promise of concentrating solar power for thermal desalination: A review of technology configurations and optimizations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:208:y:2025:i:c:s1364032124007482
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.115022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Omar, Amr & Nashed, Amir & Li, Qiyuan & Leslie, Greg & Taylor, Robert A., 2020. "Pathways for integrated concentrated solar power - Desalination: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    2. José M. Cardemil & Allan R. Starke & Adriana Zurita & Carlos Mata‐Torres & Rodrigo Escobar, 2021. "Integration schemes for hybrid and polygeneration concentrated solar power plants," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(6), November.
    3. Elena Helerea & Marius D. Calin & Cristian Musuroi, 2023. "Water Energy Nexus and Energy Transition—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-31, February.
    4. World Bank, 2019. "The Role of Desalination in an Increasingly Water-Scarce World," World Bank Publications - Reports 31416, The World Bank Group.
    5. Goutam Konapala & Ashok K. Mishra & Yoshihide Wada & Michael E. Mann, 2020. "Climate change will affect global water availability through compounding changes in seasonal precipitation and evaporation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Yan Li & Ruilian Zhang, 2023. "A Review of Water-Energy-Food Nexus Development in a Just Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-16, August.
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