Assessment of Water Bodies of United Arab Emirates Coastal Sabkhas as Potential Sites for Natural Salinity Gradient Solar Ponds
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 4
Abstract
Increasing population and growing demands from both agriculture and industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) necessitate the need to provide inexpensive fresh water. The only feasible source of such water is desalination. The coastal area of the United Arab Emirates especially in Abu Dhabi is formed of a series of hypersaline (47%°) lagoons surrounded by salt-encrusted flat sabkhas. Such water bodies may be used as salinity gradient solar ponds (SGSPs) to generate clean electricity that can be used in desalination plants. The geologic and climatic conditions of this region are compared with El Paso, Texas, USA where there is a well-established SGSP technology. It is concluded that the water and air temperature, solar radiation, and geologic setting support the possibility of using this technology in the UAE and especially in Abu Dhabi. Cost analyses also suggest that the generation of electricity and its use in desalination plants are economically feasible.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 134 • Issue 4 • December 2008
Pages: 111 - 120
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 17, 2007
Accepted: Apr 21, 2008
Published online: Dec 1, 2008
Published in print: Dec 2008
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