Professional Diploma in Renewable-Powered Desalination
This professional diploma prepares you to design and evaluate desalination plants powered by renewable energy. You will study the energy consumption of desalination, coupling with solar PV, solar thermal and wind power, emerging proposals using wave energy, storage and flexible operation of reverse osmosis plants, and the technical and economic viability of grid-connected and off-grid systems.
Prior knowledge check
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What is the Professional Diploma in Renewable-Powered Desalination?
This professional diploma prepares you to design and evaluate desalination plants powered by renewable energy. You will compare the energy consumption of thermal and membrane processes, describe the solar, wind and marine resources available for desalination, design grid-connected, off-grid and hybrid systems, apply energy and water storage and flexible operation, size equipment for isolated systems and communities, and estimate the cost of the water produced and the emissions avoided.
What sets this diploma apart: water and energy together, linking two key sectors of the ecological transition; all sources, covering solar, wind, marine and hybrid systems; flexible operation, showing how to adapt a plant to variable energy; off-grid systems, with solutions for islands, remote coasts and emergencies; and a case study in which you size a renewable-powered desalination plant.
Programme highlights
- Water and energy: linking two key sectors of the ecological transition.
- All sources: solar, wind, marine and hybrid systems.
- Flexible operation: how to adapt a plant to variable energy.
- Off-grid systems: solutions for islands, remote coasts and emergencies.
- Economic analysis: levelised cost of water, avoided emissions and sensitivity.
- Case study: sizing a renewable-powered desalination plant.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Renewable-Powered Desalination
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Energy and desalination
- 1.1. Energy requirements of desalination
- 1.2. Thermal and membrane processes
- 1.3. Specific energy consumption
- 1.4. Carbon footprint of desalinated water
- 1.5. Thermodynamic minimum
- 1.6. Energy recovery
- 1.7. Efficiency indicators
- 1.8. The water-energy nexus
Desalination with solar photovoltaic energy
- 2.1. The solar resource and its variability
- 2.2. Sizing the PV array
- 2.3. Direct coupling with reverse osmosis
- 2.4. Power electronics and variable speed drives
- 2.5. Battery-based systems
- 2.6. Battery-free systems
- 2.7. Maintenance in the marine environment
- 2.8. Application examples
Desalination with solar thermal energy
- 3.1. Solar thermal collectors
- 3.2. Solar distillation
- 3.3. Multi-effect distillation
- 3.4. Solar membrane distillation
- 3.5. Humidification-dehumidification
- 3.6. Thermal storage
- 3.7. Use of waste heat
- 3.8. Advantages and limitations
Wind, marine energy and hybrid systems
- 4.1. Coastal wind resource
- 4.2. Coupling wind power with reverse osmosis
- 4.3. Wave energy for desalination
- 4.4. Offshore desalination proposals
- 4.5. Hybrid solar-wind systems
- 4.6. Backup generators
- 4.7. Microgrids
- 4.8. Maturity of each option
Flexible operation and storage
- 5.1. Variable-load operation
- 5.2. Effects on membranes
- 5.3. Frequent start-ups and shutdowns
- 5.4. Water storage as energy storage
- 5.5. Batteries and other technologies
- 5.6. Demand management
- 5.7. Control systems
- 5.8. Grid response
Off-grid systems and remote communities
- 6.1. Water needs on islands and remote coasts
- 6.2. Compact and modular plants
- 6.3. Containerised units
- 6.4. Emergency systems
- 6.5. Water quality and post-treatment
- 6.6. Operation by local staff
- 6.7. Simplified maintenance
- 6.8. Community water management
Economic and environmental viability
- 7.1. Levelised cost of water
- 7.2. Levelised cost of energy
- 7.3. Capital and operating costs
- 7.4. Comparison with conventional supply
- 7.5. Avoided emissions
- 7.6. Brine management
- 7.7. Project financing
- 7.8. Sensitivity analysis
Case study: renewable-powered desalination plant
- 8.1. Defining water demand
- 8.2. Assessing the renewable resource
- 8.3. Selecting the desalination technology
- 8.4. Sizing the energy system
- 8.5. Operation and storage strategy
- 8.6. Cost estimate
- 8.7. Environmental assessment
- 8.8. Presentation of the case
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Renewable-Powered Desalination
It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Renewable-Powered Desalination
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Renewable-Powered Desalination
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Renewable-Powered Desalination
Reverse osmosis combined with renewable electricity, mainly solar PV and wind, is the most widespread; the diploma compares all the options, including solar thermal and wave energy.
Yes, through flexible operation strategies and water storage, although with limitations that are studied in the programme.
Yes, as an emerging technology, with a realistic assessment of its stage of development alongside offshore desalination proposals.
Yes. A full module is devoted to off-grid systems and remote communities, including compact, modular and containerised plants.
You size a desalination plant powered by renewables, from water demand and resource assessment to the energy system, operating strategy, costs and environmental assessment.
Fully online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each, ending with a case study in which you apply what you have learned to a complete plant design.
More programmes in Marine energy
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.
- Profile: a degree in industrial, energy, chemical or environmental engineering or a related field, or professional experience in the water or energy sectors.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrolmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enrol
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.