SMALL-SCALE PHOTOVOLTAIC DESALINATION FOR RURAL WATER-SUPPLY - DEMONSTRATION PLANT IN GRAN-CANARIA

A small reverse osmosis (RO) plant supplied by a photovoltaic (PV) pow er supply has been installed at the island of Gran Canaria. On behalf of this system the feasibility of small PV-RO systems (1 m(3)/d) is in vestigated. The RO-plant is described in detail concerning its technic al specifications, its operation constraints and its energy demand. Fu rthermore the photovoltaic power supply is described in detail. With s imulations it is shown how the system is designed to guarantee a relia bility of more than 96% in the water supply. A brief economic analysis shows that the water production costs are still high (about 16 $/m(3) ) but can be lowered in future. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.