Trevi Systems Solar-Thermal Forward Osmosis¶
Rainwater & Storage • Est. CapEx: Low-Cost / Locally Fabricated • Lifespan: 15 Years (Standardized)
Technical Overview¶
Trevi Systems developed a carbon-free desalination plant in Hawaii that runs entirely on concentrating solar-thermal power. It uses forward osmosis instead of reverse osmosis to produce fresh water at higher recovery rates without electricity or fossil fuels. The system is designed to incorporate thermal energy storage for around-the-clock operation.
Key Specifications & Engineering Parameters¶
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Category | Rainwater & Storage |
| Capital Cost (CapEx) | Low-Cost / Locally Fabricated |
| Power / Energy | Solar PV / Thermal |
| Target Scale | Community Scale |
| Standard Lifespan | 15 Years (Standardized) |
| Technology Maturity | Field Tested |
| Primary Mechanism | Curved parabolic trough mirrors concentrate sunlight onto a receiver to generate heat. This thermal energy drives a forward osmosis process where water naturally passes through a semipermeable membrane without high-pressure pumps, reducing membrane fouling and energy demand. |
Cross-Reference & Interactive Tools¶
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