Solar energy-based water treatment system applicable to the remote areas: Case of indonesia arsanto ishadi wibowo and keh-chin chang

Abstract

Remote areas usually lack basic clean water services. Considering low population, poor geographical accessibility and lack of electricity, a small-scaled water treatment system capable of producing clean fresh water associated with solar thermal/photovoltaic applications, which is characterized with low capital cost, easy operation and less need of maintenance, is employed in the techno-economic study. Indonesia is one of the countries which owns considerable water resources in their territories but has moderate coverage in basic water services, and is chosen as a case for demonstration. The price of clean water from this system is profitable as compared to that of bottled water, which is an accessible safe water in these areas, but still much higher than that of municipal water.