Application of geothermal energy for heating and fresh water production in a brackish water greenhouse desalination unit: A case study from Algeria

Hacene Mahmoudi*, Nawel Spahis, Mattheus F. Goosen, Noreddine Ghaffour, Nadjib Drouiche, Abdellah Ouagued

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

97 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to outline a proposed a new brackish water greenhouse desalination unit powered by geothermal energy for the development of arid and relatively cold regions, using Algeria as a case study. Countries which have abundant sea/brackish water resources and good geothermal conditions are ideal candidates for producing fresh water from sea/brackish water. The establishment of human habitats in these arid areas strongly depends on availability of fresh water. The main advantage of using geothermal energy to power brackish water greenhouse desalination units is that this renewable energy source can provide power 24 h a day. This resource is generally invariant with less intermittence problems compared to other renewable resources such as solar or wind energy. Geothermal resources can both be used to heat the greenhouses and to provide fresh water needed for irrigation of the crops cultivated inside the greenhouses. A review of the geothermal potential in the case study country is also outlined.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)512-517
Number of pages6
JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Algeria
  • Brackish water greenhouse desalination
  • Geothermal energy
  • Heating
  • Renewable energy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Application of geothermal energy for heating and fresh water production in a brackish water greenhouse desalination unit: A case study from Algeria'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this