Desolination

Decarbonising Desalination for a Sustainable Future

Teesside University began a groundbreaking project in collaboration with a consortium, responding to the European call for innovation to decarbonise the desalination process in arid regions.

The DESOLINATION project is funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme. The focus of this ambitious initiative was to use direct solar thermal heat to power desalination technology and produce both fresh water and electricity in a renewable manner.

This pioneering project brings together 19 partners from the EU and Gulf region to address the critical environmental challenge to provide access to fresh water but also aligns with decarbonising the industry to reach global net zero goals.

Challenge

Access to clean water is a pressing issue, particularly in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, where desalination is a primary source. Traditionally, desalination relied on electricity generated through fossil fuels, contributing to increased carbon emissions. Teesside University identified the challenge of maintaining the process of desalination while reducing its carbon footprint and transforming it into a greener process.

Solution

Teesside University and the DESOLINATION consortium designed an innovative supercritical CO2 blend cycle adapted for energy production. Not only will the next generation CSP plants use these new working fluids to power itself, but the production of waste heat will be recovered and channelled back into the desalination plant.

This new technology is set to go into its pilot phase at King Saud University, Riyadh. The project focuses on creating an advanced power generation cycle that not only increases efficiency but operates with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

By driving desalination through thermal energy instead of electricity generated from fossil fuels, the project actively contributes to global goals of reducing carbon emissions and setting the planet on a path towards net zero.

Impact

The DESOLINATION project is set to make a substantial impact on multiple fronts. By reducing carbon emissions created by the desalination process, the project directly addresses the need to create new innovations that pave the way for greener systems. The initiative has already demonstrated an 80-90% reduction in the discharge of byproducts like brine back into the sea, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable ecosystem.

It also helps to provide access to clean water in arid areas utilising advanced technologies, and the system can be adapted to local conditions and to increase replicability to other sites in Gulf countries.

Partnering with strong industrial groups in the consortium will ensure that the development of this technology and process meets the criteria and requirements for the commercialisation of the system.

Teesside University's commitment to this project positions it as a leader in the field of advanced power generation cycles along with providing the necessary zero liquid discharge technologies and expertise to revolutionise desalination. The project represents a crucial step towards a more sustainable and net zero future