ABSTRACT
This chapter describes various conventional and emerging desalination methods that can be either directly or indirectly powered by geothermal energy. A key point is that the use of geothermal energy will reduce the cost of desalination and will also reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases associated with the use of conventional, non-renewable energy sources. Geothermal energy development can be used to produce renewable energy in the form of electricity or directly used to provide hot water for a variety of uses, including desalination of brackish water or seawater. Methods of geothermal desalination can be divided into two general classes: low-enthalpy and high-enthalpy systems. Each classification can be further subdivided into three subtypes, specifically: geothermal desalination systems that use dry steam or naturally hot water directly; geothermal desalination systems that first generate electricity that is then used to power desalination; geothermal desalination systems that are combined with other renewable energy sources to work on some type of cyclical basis.
