IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natsus/v8y2025i2d10.1038_s41893-024-01485-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Large-scale implementation of solar interfacial desalination

Author

Listed:
  • Yushi Chen

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Leshan Shen

    (Zhejiang Baima Lake Laboratory Co. Ltd
    Zhejiang Energy Group R&D Institute, Co. Ltd)

  • Zhifu Qi

    (Zhejiang Baima Lake Laboratory Co. Ltd
    Zhejiang Energy Group R&D Institute, Co. Ltd)

  • Zhouyang Luo

    (Zhejiang Baima Lake Laboratory Co. Ltd
    Zhejiang Energy Group R&D Institute, Co. Ltd)

  • Xiangyu Li

    (University of Tennessee)

  • Hua Bao

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Polytechnic University)

Abstract

Solar interfacial desalination (SID), a technology that uses solar energy to produce fresh water, is seen as a potential solution to the twin shortages of water and energy. However, there remains a big gap between the current bench-scale success and future industrial application. Here we show a scaled-up SID system that spans over 150 m2 and achieves a fresh-water production rate of up to 4.5 kg m−2 d−1 and a rated fresh-water productivity of 300 kg d−1 over 4 months of operation. Taking advantage of this large-scale system, we found that the system size requires a dramatic change in materials selection and a substantial increase in thermal mass, leading to a different water yield. A cost analysis revealed that capital investment is heavy, unlike the low-cost operation in indoor SID. We also underscore the importance of addressing fouling, including sedimentation and green algae. By combining a large-scale implementation with an analysis of an SID platform, this work offers insights into its potential for sustainable application in remote areas for domestic water supplies.

Suggested Citation

  • Yushi Chen & Leshan Shen & Zhifu Qi & Zhouyang Luo & Xiangyu Li & Hua Bao, 2025. "Large-scale implementation of solar interfacial desalination," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 8(2), pages 162-169, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:8:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1038_s41893-024-01485-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01485-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-024-01485-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41893-024-01485-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:8:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1038_s41893-024-01485-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.