Solar-powered water desalination plant in Doha
About
Overview
Location
Doha, Qatar
Type
Solar-PV powered desalination
Capacity
Product quality
Permeate
Distribution
Local
Technology type
Reverse osmosis
Land footprint:
Output:
Solar energy and fresh water
Facilities
3
Project description
In collaboration with Fraunhofer-Institut for Solare Energiesysteme ISE, Agrico Qatar has installed an advanced solar water desalination system at their facilities near Doha, Qatar. This system, developed by Fraunhofer ISE, provides permeate water for a 20-hectare farm, which produces vegetables, fish, and shrimp for groceries nationwide.
How we reuse water
Groundwater wells located near the ocean often encounter saltwater intrusion as they pump more and more water. As a result, water that was once fresh can become salty and undrinkable over time and require treatment. Because desalination requires significant electricity to run high pressure pumps, solar energy is an ideal way to generate ‘off-grid’ energy that is both reliable and cost effective for desalination. This allows groundwater that would otherwise be unuseable to become a reliable source of additional water.