This article describes a system that combines the technologies of reverse osmosis and photovoltaics to realize a pioneer project for drinking water supply to a rural community in semi‐arid Brazil (latitude 3°44′S), with a local yearly average temperature of 28°C and a yearly solar potential of about 2000 kW h m −2 . Two strategies are investigated: first the PV‐RO (photovoltaic powered reverse osmosis) plant is equipped with a DC motor; and second, a three‐phase induction motor is used. Through the analysis of the stored data the second option is chosen as the better alternative. This strategy has a specific electrical consumption (energy required to produce 1 m 3 drinking water) of 3·03 kW h m −3 , a recovery ratio of 27% (relation between drinking water product flow and brackish water input flow) and a drinking water cost of US$ 12·76 per m 3 .
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Carvalho et al. (2004) studied this question.