Solar Powered Desalination Plant

[Rasulis]

One of our client left me a message to see if we want to provide geotechnical/hydrogeology support for design of a solar power desalination plant in Imperial Valley. Since I am not familiar with those type of facilities, I went to the internet (where else?). The technology looks interesting and promising.

There is one in operation already in Central Valley which is getting ready go full blast.

https://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/18...-salt-problem/

http://www.sfgate.com/science/articl...nt-5326024.php

Then there is this one which is still in conceptual design.

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/resear...drinking-water

[May90]

Honestly, I thought there were quite a few of these already. The technology isn't overly complicated.

[Rasulis]

Honestly, I thought there were quite a few of these already. The technology isn't overly complicated.

Mostly in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Kuwait, and UAE. There has been no need for this technology in the U.S. till now. I guess necessity is the mother of invention. Our firm right now is participating in a Pure Water project. Which is a nice way of saying “Toilet to Faucet”. It is something that would have been unthinkable in the U.S. 10 years ago. Nobody even blink an eye these days.

[Kellhound]

One of our client left me a message to see if we want to provide geotechnical/hydrogeology support for design of a solar power desalination plant in Imperial Valley. Since I am not familiar with those type of facilities, I went to the internet (where else?). The technology looks interesting and promising.

There is one in operation already in Central Valley which is getting ready go full blast.

https://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/18...-salt-problem/

http://www.sfgate.com/science/articl...nt-5326024.php

Then there is this one which is still in conceptual design.

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/resear...drinking-water

So, doing the math from the unit in the first article, you would need ~37 square MILES of desalination plant to equal the 12 million acre feet of water California is currently over-extracting from the ground water. To put that into perspective, Disneyland Resort is only .25 square mile in size.

[Rasulis]

So, doing the math from the unit in the first article, you would need ~37 square MILES of desalination plant to equal the 12 million acre feet of water California is currently over-extracting from the ground water. To put that into perspective, Disneyland Resort is only .25 square mile in size.

I assume you are talking about Disneyland? There is no way Disneyworld is 0.25 square mile.

Desalination by itself will not solve the CA water problem. The solution will require a multi faceted approach. It will be a combination of many things ranging from conservation, better groundwater management policy, better stormwater management to reduce runoff and increase groundwater recharge, changing the antiquated agricultural farming method and even the type of crops grown, new dams, Desalination (thermal, electrical, pressure, nanotechnology), toilet to tap (no more dumping treated water into the ocean), etc.

[Deleted]

I assume you are talking about Disneyland? There is no way Disneyworld is 0.25 square mile.

Desalination by itself will not solve the CA water problem. The solution will require a multi faceted approach. It will be a combination of many things ranging from conservation, better groundwater management policy, better stormwater management to reduce runoff and increase groundwater recharge, changing the antiquated agricultural farming method and even the type of crops grown, new dams, Desalination (thermal, electrical, pressure, nanotechnology), toilet to tap (no more dumping treated water into the ocean), etc.

All of Californa's problems with agricultre can be resolved by banning the growth of crops like Almonds and Kiwi fruit and to a lesser extend strawberries. Almonds and Kiwi Fruit are extremely water demanding crops and Strawberries do not like the dry heat of California and it's proof the Californian bubble is going to burst very soon.

[Wells]

All of Californa's problems with agricultre can be resolved by banning the growth of crops like Almonds and Kiwi fruit and to a lesser extend strawberries. Almonds and Kiwi Fruit are extremely water demanding crops and Strawberries do not like the dry heat of California and it's proof the Californian bubble is going to burst very soon.

California's agriculture is less than 2% of the state's GSP. They'd be just fine without any of it, let alone without almonds and kiwis.

[Deleted]

California's agriculture is less than 2% of the state's GSP. They'd be just fine without any of it, let alone without almonds and kiwis.

The Problem is more that California is the US's largest distributor of Almonds and Kiwis and the world's second largest supplier of Kiwis besides New Zealand. It's hard to convince people to stop being a Monopoly but that's what you need to do to avoid California turning into a dustbowl.

[Wells]

The Problem is more that California is the US's largest distributor of Almonds and Kiwis and the world's second largest supplier of Kiwis besides New Zealand. It's hard to convince people to stop being a Monopoly but that's what you need to do to avoid California turning into a dustbowl.

I agree that water usage with regards to agriculture needs to be reevaluated. There's just no basis claiming California is a bubble that's going to collapse over a tiny portion of its economy.

[Deleted]

I agree that water usage with regards to agriculture needs to be reevaluated. There's just no basis claiming California is a bubble that's going to collapse over a tiny portion of its economy.

The California Agriculture business is very much a bubble. They're pushing production beyond the means of renewable water sources as well as ground soil nutrients. It's already naturally unsustainable and without the other states help would be doomed, with no infrastructure in place, it WILL damage the Environment of California beyond repair.

This will have a knock on effect of everywhere in California.

[Vargur]

I assume you are talking about Disneyland? There is no way Disneyworld is 0.25 square mile.

Desalination by itself will not solve the CA water problem. The solution will require a multi faceted approach. It will be a combination of many things ranging from conservation, better groundwater management policy, better stormwater management to reduce runoff and increase groundwater recharge, changing the antiquated agricultural farming method and even the type of crops grown, new dams, Desalination (thermal, electrical, pressure, nanotechnology), toilet to tap (no more dumping treated water into the ocean), etc.

I don't think you know how small 400m2 is.
One very small apartment is 50-100m2.

[Macaquerie]

I feel like desalination is going to be another one of those things that looks attractive now but is going to lead to massive problems down the line. Yeah, for the time being any kind of water source looks like a good option and there's so much goddamn water in the ocean that what we'd be using couldn't possibly make a dent in that or lead to any kind of disruptions in the marine ecosystem. But once technology advances to a point where desalination is cheap enough to really start doing on a grand scale, you'd best believe we'd be exploiting it to the an unsustainable point, that's just what we as humans seem programmed to do.

[Deleted]

I feel like desalination is going to be another one of those things that looks attractive now but is going to lead to massive problems down the line. Yeah, for the time being any kind of water source looks like a good option and there's so much goddamn water in the ocean that what we'd be using couldn't possibly make a dent in that or lead to any kind of disruptions in the marine ecosystem. But once technology advances to a point where desalination is cheap enough to really start doing on a grand scale, you'd best believe we'd be exploiting it to the an unsustainable point, that's just what we as humans seem programmed to do.

The fact that so much square milage would need to be dug up to make Desaliantion plants proves how utterly horrible the idea is. The plan is to avoid destroying the Californian ecosystem.

[Vargur]

I feel like desalination is going to be another one of those things that looks attractive now but is going to lead to massive problems down the line. Yeah, for the time being any kind of water source looks like a good option and there's so much goddamn water in the ocean that what we'd be using couldn't possibly make a dent in that or lead to any kind of disruptions in the marine ecosystem. But once technology advances to a point where desalination is cheap enough to really start doing on a grand scale, you'd best believe we'd be exploiting it to the an unsustainable point, that's just what we as humans seem programmed to do.

What do you mean unsustainable? Most liquids go back into the atmosphere eventually, so back into the oceans.

[Deleted]

What do you mean unsustainable? Most liquids go back into the atmosphere eventually, so back into the oceans.

Oh really? Your high school level knowledge on the water system has solved the California Water crisis? Good job! Everyone go home lads, Vargur has sorted this.

[Unknown User]

I don't think you know how small 400m2 is.
One very small apartment is 50-100m2.

I don't think you know how math works.
0.25 square miles is ~647000m2.

[Murderdoll]

I honestly dont see how a solar operated Desalination plant would be economical. You would certainly offset any enviromental benefits of solar power by the sheer amount of panels produced.

We have a small desak plant here in Victoria, Australia that is supposed to have an output of 410 megalitres a day, that simply is rusting away because it costs so much to run and maintain, 1.8m per day (although, that is partially due to the inept Labor Govt and its operating costs).

It requires an estimated 90 megawatts to run.

The biggest Solar Plant in Australia runs at 100MW and is 250 hectare (2.5km2)

We have the space here in Australia. Our country is literally millions of KM2 of desert. Cali is 423km2 and would certainly need a MUCH MUCH MUCH bigger desalination plant to provide for the 39 million people to our 5 million.

THe size is honestly, daunting to think about.

[Polyxo]

I assume you are talking about Disneyland? There is no way Disneyworld is 0.25 square mile.

Desalination by itself will not solve the CA water problem. The solution will require a multi faceted approach. It will be a combination of many things ranging from conservation, better groundwater management policy, better stormwater management to reduce runoff and increase groundwater recharge, changing the antiquated agricultural farming method and even the type of crops grown, new dams, Desalination (thermal, electrical, pressure, nanotechnology), toilet to tap (no more dumping treated water into the ocean), etc.

Yeah, Disneyland is the small park in California. DisneyWorld is the monster in Florida. It's bigger than San Francisco.

[PhaelixWW]

We have the space here in Australia. Our country is literally millions of KM2 of desert. Cali is 423km2 and would certainly need a MUCH MUCH MUCH bigger desalination plant to provide for the 39 million people to our 5 million.

California is 423,000 km2, not 423 km2...

[Murderdoll]

California is 423,000 km2, not 423 km2...

Missed out the K, probably shouldve just put ,000. Whatever.

Thankyou for being a nit picky motherfucker.