The Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Desalination of Sea Water (DSW) is one of the spearheading projects of the Cyprus Institute. It examines the combination of Solar Thermal techniques for power production and simultaneous production of water, in a more efficient and environmental-friendly way.

The first phase of the CSP-DSW project comprises of a comprehensive techno-economic feasibility study for the creation of a pilot (demonstration) plant that utilizes solar power technology and tested desalination methods in a more efficient and environmental-friendly combined thermodynamic cycle, for the production of water and simultaneous production of economically competitive, green energy. The feasibility study proposes an implementation design for the pilot plant that is best suited to Cyprus’ needs and conditions.

The second phase of the project is comprised by the actual installation of the plant that will be used to further advance the concept, engineering and optimize the use of this technology. The third and final phase will see the deployment of the refined technology plants for heavy-load commercial operation.

The first phase of the project which was formally launched in the fall of 2008, concluded successfully in June 2010. The study concludes favourably for the novel concept of solar thermal co-generation: it is technologically viable and economically sustainable in the Cyprus business climate and Renewable Energy Sources policy context. An Overview of the CSP-DSW study can be found here.

An International Workshop was organised on June 23rd 2010, in Nicosia in which the findings of the study were presented to prominent scientists, stakeholders and policy makers from Cyprus and the region. The event received extensive publicity from the media and political endorsement.

The Government of Cyprus has fully endorsed this project. Specifically, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Demetris Christofias declared (to the local press and in official EU meetings) the intention of the government to invest 18m Euros taken from the European Structural Funds to construct a prototype desalination unit that will be driven by solar-thermal power. The President of the Republic has chosen the CSP-DSW project to present as Cyprus’ major efforts in renewable energy at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) summit convened in Paris (July 13, 2008). In his presentation, he designated the CSP-DSW project as “strategic” for the UfM.