A critical review of pyramidal solar still design, performance enhancement strategies, materials, and economic viability

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Water, a vital resource, is facing a critical shortage due to escalating demand for industrialisation and a growing population. To address this challenge, researchers investigated various methods to produce potable water, among which solar desalination stands out as a promising solution. Traditional solar stills (SS) offers simplicity and minimal manufacturing needs, yet low productivity remains a concern. Among various solar still configurations, pyramidal solar stills (PSS) have demonstrated notable advantages, including improved solar radiation capture, enhanced heat distribution, and increased condensation surface area. Despite these advantages, research on PSS remains fragmented and often lacks critical benchmarking, unified performance assessment, and realistic techno-economic evaluation. This review critically compares reported performance by considering differences in solar irradiance, climatic conditions, basin geometry, water depth, techno-economic and enhancement techniques, while discussing the limitations of directly comparing productivity and efficiency reported under different experimental conditions. Because of the significant heterogeneity in experimental methodologies and reporting practices, a quantitative meta-analysis was not feasible; instead, a structured comparative assessment framework was adopted. Finally, it identifies key areas for future research to develop highly performing and economically efficient PSS solutions. This review provides well-rounded and in-depth guidance to both emerging and experienced researchers and professionals.