Mapping the evolution of solar water desalination research: A bibliometric review (2000–2022)

Abstract

Abstract Over the last two decades, the practice of desalinating water has emerged as a practical remedy for regions grappling with severe water scarcity, often exacerbated by limited natural resources. Notably, there has been a growing emphasis on leveraging renewable energy sources in the desalination process, particularly through solar-based systems. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 6219 publications on solar desalination, retrieved from the Scopus database between 2000 and 2022. The analysis reveals an annual growth rate of 19.83%, reflecting the increasing research interest in the field. China, India, and the United States have emerged as the most productive countries, while the journal Desalination led in terms of publication count. Kabeel, AE was identified as the most prolific author with 133 publications. Using VOSviewer, we mapped the co-occurrence of keywords, international collaboration networks, and major research themes. The findings underscore the growing global focus on sustainable desalination, highlighting promising areas for future innovation and cross-border collaboration.