| AH | Air Heating | - | |
| CFD | Computational Fluid Dynamics | - | |
| COP | Coefficient Of Performance | - | |
| CPL | Cost Per Liter | $ | |
| CAWH | Closed Air Water Heated | - | |
| CAOW | Closed Air Open Water | - | |
| CWOA | Closed Water Open Air | - | |
| DPC | Dual Purpose Collector | - | |
| ED | Electrodialysis | - | |
| EVT | Evacuated Tubes | - | |
| FE | Flashing Evaporation | - | |
| GOR | Gain Output Ratio | - | |
| HDH | Humidification Dehumidification | - | |
| HDHA | Humidification Dehumidification with Adsorption system | - | |
| HP | Heat Pump | - | |
| MENA | Middle East and North Africa | - | |
| MHDD | Membrane Humidification Dehumidification Desalination | - | |
| MR | Mass Ratio | - | |
| MSF | Multi Stage Flash | - | |
| MED | Multi Effect Distillation | - | |
| MSH | Multi Stage Humidification | - | |
| OAOW | Open Air Open Water | - | |
| OAWH | Open Air Water Heated | - | |
| OACW | Open Air Closed Water | - | |
| PV | Photovoltaic | - | |
| PVT | Photovoltaic Thermal | - | |
| RO | Reverse Osmosis | - | |
| RR | Recovery Ratio | - | |
| SAH | Solar Air Heater | - | |
| SAHPD | Solar Assisted Heat Pump Desalination | - | |
| SSF | Single Stage Flash | - | |
| TDS | Total Dissolved Solids | mg/l | |
| VC | Vapor Compression | - | |
| VPHDH | Variable Pressure Humidification Dehumidification | - | |
| WH | Water Heating | - | |