PROTEAS Desalination
About this facility
PROTEAS’ desalination infrastructure combines thermal and membrane-based technologies to advance water treatment under real-world Mediterranean conditions. The facility includes a four-effect forward-feed Multiple Effect Distillation (MED) unit that uses plate heat exchangers to maximize thermal efficiency for seawater desalination using low-grade renewable heat. In parallel, a dual-container membrane system houses forward osmosis (FO) membranes, pretreatment stages, and reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) modules—providing a flexible platform to evaluate hybrid configurations and brine concentration strategies. Together, these systems enable research on water recovery, energy optimization, and brine valorization—offering practical solutions for coastal agriculture, island water supply, off-grid facilities, and industrial process water reuse in arid and semi-arid regions.
Sectors and technologies
PROTEAS’ desalination technology is ideally suited for sectors facing water scarcity in challenging environments. Coastal agriculture can benefit from sustainable irrigation using treated seawater, while island communities and off- grid facilities gain access to reliable, renewable-powered water supply. Industrial operations—especially those requiring high-purity water or managing saline waste—can use these systems for efficient treatment and reuse. Additionally, the technology supports municipal utilities in arid regions and offers portable, hybrid solutions for mining, emergency response, and humanitarian deployments.
Technical specifications
2 parameters| MED configuration | Four-effect, forward-feed multi-effect distillation using plate heat exchangers |
|---|---|
| Membrane desalination systems | Forward osmosis, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration with pretreatment |
Available services
- Solar Radiation Measurement and Weather Station
- DNI Measurement and Analysis
- Characterization of Optical Properties of Solar Reflectors
- Outdoor exposure of Solar Reflectors
- Optical Properties of Mirrors. Reflectance measurement. Facets characterization
- Photogrammetry Measurement of Concentrator’s shape
- Geometrical assessment of Solar Concentrators (Single Facets, Point and Line Focus Collectors)
- Heliostat(s) Performance Qualification
- Testing in molten salt loop of auxiliary components (valves, heat tracing, instrumentation)
- Sensor development and testing
- Heat Exchangers Characterization
- Molten salt pool to steam heat exchangers
- Simulation and modelling of thermal storage systems. Integration in STE plants or industrial heat processes
- Solar Thermal Desalination by Multi-Effect Distillation
- Innovative membrane desalination technologies (MD, FO)
Contact & links
Marios C. Georgiou <m.c.georgiou@cyi.ac.cy>; Harris Chrysanthou <h.chrysanthou@cyi.ac.cy>; coordination.energy@cyi.ac.cy