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DOE OSTI · 1859725

GIS-Based Graphical User Interface Tools for Analyzing Solar Thermal Desalination Systems & High-Potential Implementation

Fthenakis, Vasilis
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Abstract

This project developed a user-friendly, open-source, software that enables a comparative evaluation of solar thermal desalination technology options and employs geospatial data layers to identify regions of high-potential for solar thermal desalination. This was accomplished by integrating solar models with desalination models and enhancing their utility by providing GIS-based data inputs. The developed Solar Energy Desalination Analysis Tool (SEDAT) enables techno-economical evaluation of desalination technologies and selection of regions with the highest potential for using solar energy to power desalination plants. It simplifies the planning, design, and valuation of solar thermal and solar hybrid desalination systems in the U.S. and worldwide. SEDAT uses Dash for integrating various layers of large volumes of GIS data with Python-based models of solar energy generation and desalination technologies. It derives time-series of energy generation and water production, with details of plant performance and suggestions for improving the solar-desalination coupling. It is a one of-a-kind tool of analysis representing a definitive advancement in the state-of-the-art. Of solar desalination modeling This report summarizes the various phases of the tool’s development, and presents examples of the results.

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Fthenakis, Vasilis. 2022-03-28. GIS-Based Graphical User Interface Tools for Analyzing Solar Thermal Desalination Systems & High-Potential Implementation. https://doi.org/10.2172/1859725

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