Abstract
•Development of basin and tubular solar stills has been reviewed.•Future expectations of solar water desalination have been discussed.•Hybrid systems of both BSS and PC-TSS types are recommended.
Both basin and tubular solar stills have been used for solar desalination for long time. Using solar energy for the freshwater production is a big challenge due to their low productivity with relatively high cost. However, in some specific situations like rural and isolated areas, it is considered suitable. The present study aims to analyze the latest situation of the solar water desalination based on the two typical solar stills (basin and tubular). The potential of both types for leading the future development of the solar desalination has been evaluated. Various techniques and developments of solar stills such as multi-effect, wick, heat storage materials, condenser surface and photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems and atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) have been reviewed. The most promising solar still techniques and the future expectations have been discussed at the end of the study.