This can be noted with increasing government attention and funding for research and development in these fields. For example the European Commission has agreed on ambitious targets to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 80% by 2050 in comparison to 1990 levels and to increase renewable energy use and energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 (2). While the growth rate of desalination plant capacity is currently growing at a rate of 55% per year (11).