This work presents the results of the techno-economic analysis of a proposed 100 m(3) day(-1) desalination plant based on existing plate and frame MD technology coupled with a static solar collector field as main heat supply. The experimental results of one commercial and two pre-commercial MD modules characterized previously under real operational conditions were used. Three different cost-effective solar technologies (evacuated tube collectors (ETCs), flat plate collectors (FPCs) and compound parabolic collectors (CPCs)) were considered for the analysis and the results were compared to a fossil source. For the dimensioning of the solar field, meteorological data from Almeria (South-Spain) where the experimental campaign took place were selected. A thorough economical assessment was performed to calculate the cost of water (WPC) for the different considered scenarios. The best results obtained show a WPC in the range of 10-11.30 (sic) m(-3) for the combination of the most efficient MD module and solar collector. The fossil-driven option showed a similar (i.e. 7.19 (sic) m(-3)) yet lower WPC. Although the MD technology here analyzed is in an early stage of development, the results obtained suggest solar MD can be already competitive with PV-RO and PV-ER according to reported data for similar capacities (similar to 100 m(3) day(-1)). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.