Solar-Thermal Water Purification by Recycling Photovoltaic Reflection Losses

A solar thermal water purification system, comprising:

• a reverse osmosis membrane;
• a heat-driven water pump for pumping water through the reverse osmosis membrane;
• and
• a photovoltaic component configured to provide heated water to the heat-driven water pump, wherein the photovoltaic component comprises a conduit, and at least one photovoltaic panel.

A method for water purification, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a thermal water purification system comprising:
• i) a reverse osmosis membrane, ii) a heat-driven water pump, and iii) a photovoltaic component;
• heating salt water using the photovoltaic component;
• providing the heated salt water to the heat-driven water pump;
• pumping salt water through the reverse osmosis membrane using the heat-driven water pump;
• and
• extracting desalinated water from a side of the reverse osmosis membrane opposite the heat-driven water pump.