Operational experience of a solar membrane distillation demonstration plant in Pozo Izquierdo-Gran Canaria Island (Spain)

Abstract Desalination is a technology with a high energy demand, mainly supplied by fossil sources. Therefore, solar energy is a real alternative, as it supplies virtually unlimited energy. Solar desalination could be an ideal solution for isolated areas which receive high solar irradiation per day. Solar Membrane Distillation (MD) is a developing technology particularly interesting for small supplies, isolated populations and autonomous systems. As it is a low temperature operation process, MD is very suitable for integration with thermal solar systems and/or waste heat recovery units; in contrast to other desalination technologies, only a coarse filtration of the water is required as pretreatment. However, the commercial availability is currently quite limited. This paper presents the promising 5-year experience and data analysis of a solar compact MD demonstration plant installed in the facilities of the Instituto Tecnologico de Canarias (ITC) in Playa de Pozo Izquierdo (Gran Canary Island-Spain). The unit was designed and installed at the end of 2004 as part of a co-funded FP6 DGTREN research project called ‘Development of stand-alone, solar thermally driven and PV-supplied desalination systems based on innovative membrane distillation’ (MEMDIS) and has been continuously tested within the FP7 EU co-funded project called ‘MEmbrane DIstillation in Remote AreaS — MEDIRAS’.