Water & Wastewater Asia May/Jun 2021

HOTSEAT
THE PROCESS
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2
3
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Seawater Intake
Solar Power heats
the Dome
Seawater is
Superheated
Condensed &
Precipitated
The Four
Subsystems
In a Solar WaterTM
The water is then heated
The radiative flux is
The resulting fresh
The Solar WaterTM
installation, freshwater
using energy produced by
focused and super-
water can then be used
Desalination Plant
will be generated from
solar radiation enhanceed
conducted down to the
for irrigation, industrial
comprises 4
the evaporation of
a constant inflow of
seawater fed into a
large scale geodesic
dome steel structure (in
various diameters) from
20m to 50m to 80m.
by the use of solar energy
mirrors (heliostats)
reflecting sunlight
continuously onto the
dome throughout the day.
lower dome to boil the
seawater createing aa
cauldron effect.
or general household
purposes, aand can
undergo secondary
treatment as necessary
for drinking water
subsystems:
• Intake subsystem
• Freshwater
production
subsystem
• Freshwater supply
subsystem
• Salt/Brine removal
subsystem.
temperature, employing an arrangement
of heliostat mirrors positioned around
the receiver dome to gather sunlight
and focusing the sun’s power onto the
dome structure. The heat generated
is conducted down to the lower
hemispherical crucible where the
constant and rapid intake of seawater
is boiled to produce saturated steam.
This is then put through a cooling
unit, condensed and precipitated as
freshwater.
“Unlike RO, we use no fossil fuels,
only the power of the sun, so the
process is net zero, carbon neutral,
fully sustainable. It also means that the
OpEx (operating expense) costs are
significantly reduced, which alongside
lower CapEx (capital expenditure) costs,
mean that we can produce water at a
very competitive cost,” commented
Reavley.
Solar Water Plc’s Solar Domes provide
the solution for governments, water
municipalities, agriculturalists and
businesses with requirements of
generating a supply of freshwater to
meet water requirements for growing
populations and rapidly expanding
socioeconomic development
ambitions; whilst current water
supplies such as groundwater
aquifers continue to decline and
degrade.
STARTING IN SOUTH WEST ASIA
Solar Water’s first commercial
scaled dome is under construction
for the eco-city of NEOM in Saudi
Arabia and is due to be completed
and operational by the end of 2021.
Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest
desalinator of water, with about 22%
of the global market, “so it was a real
mark of confidence to have them as
our first contract”.
In fact, the clients were pleased to be
pioneering partners with Solar Water,
with the first of its kind technology
to help shape the future of water
desalination in NEOM.
Commenting on the project, His
Excellency Abdulrahman Al-
Fadli, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of
Environment, Water and Agriculture,
said, “NEOM’s adoption of this pilot
supports Saudi Arabia’s sustainability
goals, as outlined in the country’s
National Water Strategy 2030, and
is fully aligned with the sustainable
development goals set out by the
United Nations.”
Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, added,
“Easy access to abundant seawater
and fully renewable energy resources
means NEOM is perfectly placed to
produce low cost, sustainable fresh
water through solar desalination.
This type of technology is a powerful
reminder of our commitment to
supporting innovation, championing
environmental conservation and
delivering exceptional liveability.
Working together with the Ministry of
Environment, Water and Agriculture we
can expand the implementation of this
technology beyond NEOM.”
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