Part 6/12:
By combining high solar insolation with cost-effective desalination, regions facing severe water shortages could significantly improve resilience. The innovation is particularly timely given recent geopolitical tensions, like Ethiopia’s Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which highlights the fragility of transboundary water resources.
The Challenges: From Lab to Deployment
While the concept is promising, practical hurdles remain. One critical issue in desalination is the "brine carryover" effect—boiling seawater generates tiny droplets of brine laden with salt, which can damage turbine blades and hinder equipment longevity.