Solar Desalination Course

INTRODUCTION:

Desalination of sea and brackish water is a common technique to alleviate the increasing shortage of fresh water in many areas of the world today. Nonetheless, desalination processes require large quantities of energy, so their implementation is jeopardized by a significant environmental impact if fossil fuels are used. In addition, the cost of the different desalination techniques is very closely linked to the costs of energy. Therefore, in a context of continuously rising energy costs and with the impending exhaustion of the conventional energy resources, the development of desalination technologies associated with the use of renewable energies is a very attractive and promising prospect. This is especially true in the case of solar energy, as the regions with greater water shortages tend to be those with higher solar radiation.

OBJECTIVE:

The general purpose of this 3-day intensive course is to provide experts, professionals and postgraduate students from all around the world with the latest knowledge of the different existing technologies involving the use of solar energy to drive desalination techniques. More specifically, the course will instruct scientists and technicians on the basic principles of desalination using solar energy, the state of the art of the most promising technologies and the experiences acquired so far.

COURSE INSTRUCTORS:

The course will be given by researchers and scientists from Plataforma Solar de Almería (CIEMAT-PSA):

Dr. Ing. Julián Blanco - Course director

Head of Environmental Applications of Solar Energy unit of CIEMAT and Operating Agent of SolarPACES Task VI (Solar Energy and Water Processes and Applications). Large experience in the coordination and development of international R&D projects. Author of 7 books, 18 chapters and more than 60 SCI publications.

 

INTRODUCTION:

Desalination of sea and brackish water is a common technique to alleviate the increasing shortage of fresh water in many areas of the world today. Nonetheless, desalination processes require large quantities of energy, so their implementation is jeopardized by a significant environmental impact if fossil fuels are used. In addition, the cost of the different desalination techniques is very closely linked to the costs of energy. Therefore, in a context of continuously rising energy costs and with the impending exhaustion of the conventional energy resources, the development of desalination technologies associated with the use of renewable energies is a very attractive and promising prospect. This is especially true in the case of solar energy, as the regions with greater water shortages tend to be those with higher solar radiation.

OBJECTIVE:

The general purpose of this 3-day intensive course is to provide experts, professionals and postgraduate students from all around the world with the latest knowledge of the different existing technologies involving the use of solar energy to drive desalination techniques. More specifically, the course will instruct scientists and technicians on the basic principles of desalination using solar energy, the state of the art of the most promising technologies and the experiences acquired so far.

COURSE INSTRUCTORS:

The course will be given by researchers and scientists from Plataforma Solar de Almería (CIEMAT-PSA):

Dr. Ing. Julián Blanco - Course director

Head of Environmental Applications of Solar Energy unit of CIEMAT and Operating Agent of SolarPACES Task VI (Solar Energy and Water Processes and Applications). Large experience in the coordination and development of international R&D projects. Author of 7 books, 18 chapters and more than 60 SCI publications.

Dr. Diego-César Alarcón-Padilla

Researcher with extensive experience in European R&D Projects related with the combination of solar thermal energy with desalination processes. He has published more than sixteen scientific papers in the field of solar energy and water treatment, co-author of two books in the field of solar desalination.