Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Using wave energy to power a desalination plant in Kenya

Pays/Région : Kenya

Date : 1 January 2016–31 December 2018

Identifiant : 2015-03126_VR

Présentation
The global need for and lack of clean and fresh water for drinking, sanitation and agriculture is an ever growing problem, especially in arid developing countries. One way to solve this is desalination, which is simply a method to remove salt and other minerals from sea water.

However, a large-scale desalination plant are restricted to areas with good and reliable energy supply and existing electric grid. In many of the developing countries, the infrastructure required to run a desalination plant is not available. The purpose with this project is to investigate the prerequisites for using a wave energy plant located on the Kenyan coast to power a desalination plant for producing fresh and clean water. The project will be based on the wave energy conversion system developed by the Division for electricity at Uppsala University. The study includes an assessment of the wave energy potential in Kenya, measurements of the load criteria for a desalination plant that together with modeling of the power production of a wave energy plant will give input on how to design and operate a desalination plant that is powered by wave energy. The main goal of the project is an improved access to clean water and an increase in renewable energy in a developing country. But the plant, if realized, will also lead to more jobs and a more developed and sustainable infrastructure and thereby increase the resources and economic growth within the country.

Coordination : Uppsala University

Financement : Swedish Research Council
Budget : 3,300,000 kr

Swecris project database