PV Gap

Carmen Said:

Would it be a good idea to build 'solar powered' desalination plants in Australia?

We Answered:

Since most populated areas in Au are near the coast, there is plenty of salt water available. These also are the higher rainfall regions anyway. For municipalities the cheaper options are domestic water tanks and recycling of sewage water by ultra filtration or reverse osmosis. Solar desalination might have a low energy cost but the capital cost is likely to be much higher than for a fossil fuelled one.

The question is the cost of the water and where it is needed. It could be used inland but that means pipelines extending hundreds of kilometres. Expensive business. Too expensive for irrigation, most likely.

More than likely an engineering possibility but a financial nightmare.

Eduardo Said:

will north australia loose power from the solar tsunami?

We Answered:

no chance