Geothermal desalination refers to the process of using geothermal energy to power the process of converting salt water to fresh water. The process is considered economically efficient, and while overall environmental impact is uncertain, it has potential to be more environmentally friendly compared to conventional desalination options. Geothermal desalination plants have already been successful in various regions, and there is potential for further development to allow the process to be used in an increased number of water scarce regions.

Process explanation

Desalination is the process of removing minerals from seawater to convert it into fresh water. Desalination is divided into two categories in terms of processes: processes driven by thermal energy and processes driven by mechanical energy. Geothermal desalination uses geothermal energy as the thermal energy source to drive the desalination process.

There are two types of geothermal desalination: direct and indirect. In contrast, indirect geothermal desalination converts geothermal energy into electricity which is then used for membrane desalination. Similarly, if the geothermal energy is used directly, the excess geothermal energy can be used to drive heating and cooling processes. One example of agricultural applications of geothermal energy is the Balcova-Naridere Geothermal Field (BNGF) in Turkey. More specifically, the land usage required for geothermal desalination site has been estimated to be 1.2 to 2.7 square terameters are required for each megawatt of energy produced. Geothermal power has been found to leak toxic elements such as mercury, boron, and arsenic into the environment, meaning geothermal desalination plants are a potential health hazard for their surrounding environment. Ultimately though, the long term environmental consequences of geothermal power desalination plants are still not clear. It would be the most economically feasible to perform geothermal desalination in these countries due to their geothermal energy capacity. In 1994, a prototype that used geothermal energy to power desalination was built by Caldor-Marseille. This prototype was able to produce a few cubic meters of desalinated water per day.

See also

  • Geothermal power
  • Desalination

References

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