Water & energy issue in the Mediterranean region Mediterranean countries are facing high socioeconomic development needs, along with rapid population increase and increased urbanization. As a consequence, energy demand is expected to grow significantly in the next decades. While conventional energy resource endowment greatly differs between countries, they all face increasing local and global environmental constraints. In addition to energy and environment, water is becoming a major source of pressure in most of the Mediterranean countries. Indeed, freshwater sources in the region are persistently over-used. Thus, besides water management, new and unconventional sources of water must be found. It is common to all those solutions that they require significant amounts of energy. Moreover, sustainable supply of water requires a sustainable source of energy, sustainable meaning in this context affordable, compatible with society and the environment, and secure. The MED-CSD project is a project funded by the European Commission – DG Research under the 7th Framework Programme (FP7). The project takes benefit from the results of past and on-going studies.

Within a 2-year duration (June 2008 to June 2010), the main objectives of the project are:

• To carry out feasibility studies of power plants The MED-CSD project combining Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology with seawater desalination in the Mediterranean region.
• To make a technology review and a selection of concentrated solar power and desalination configurations adapted for application in the Mediterranean partner countries.
• To assess the technico-economic potential of this type of combined generation in the region.

The feasibility studies will be performed in Cyprus, Egypt, Italy (Island), Morocco and PNA. An important effort will be given to the impact assessment of a broad dissemination of this concept in the Mediterranean countries.

CyI Researcher:

Dr. Pavlos Tsiartas

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Tel: +357 222 08 622

Group leader:

Prof. Manfred A. Lange

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Tel: +357 222 08 621