Solar evaporation (solar still) uses only direct sunlight.
Saltwater warms up on a dark surface and evaporates. The water vapor condenses on the cooler inner side of the transparent cover and flows as clean condensate into a collection channel. Salt and impurities remain behind.
Operation is simple. The system uses only sunlight and requires regular refilling with saltwater. The transparent cover and the black evaporation surface must remain clean to ensure sufficient heat absorption.
Salt accumulates inside and must be removed. The technology is slow and less efficient than other methods.
Because of its simplicity and reliability it has been used for many years as dependable emergency technology at sea.
Solar evaporation uses only direct solar heat and produces neither emissions nor chemical residues. The brine remains inside the system, so there is no discharge into the sea. Material consumption is low and almost no waste is generated.
The method is one of the most environmentally clean forms of desalination.