Water from the sun

Abstract The Abu Dhabi solar desalination plant is situated at the Umm Al Nar Power and Desalination Station about 20 miles east of Abu Dhabi city. The design, procurement and fabrication of this plant started in February 1983 and it was commissioned in September 1984. The plant was designed as a demonstration unit aimed at evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of using this type of technology to provide remote coastal communities in the UAE with fresh water. Ali M. El-Nashar, Manager, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority provides an overview of the plant performance and presents an economic assessment of the cost of water from such a plant highlighting how solar energy has been helping to provide water to the region for over 15 years.