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A new solar-powered desalination technology can turn seawater into freshwater five times more efficiently than current methods. Discover this revolutionary innovation
The scarcity of drinking water is one of the biggest global crises facing us today. It is estimated that 2,2 billion of people do not have adequate access to this essential resource, according to the UN World Water Development Report 2024. Population growth and increasing freshwater consumption have put severe pressure on coastal and island nations, where seawater desalination is a vital necessity. However, traditional methods of desalination are expensive, energy-intensive and require frequent maintenance.
Researchers from Waterloo University, in Canada, have developed an innovative and efficient solution: a solar-powered desalination device capable of producing 20 liters of drinking water per day with 93% energy efficiency.
This breakthrough could transform the desalination landscape, offering an ecological and economical alternative to meet the growing demand for drinking water.
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Nature as Inspiration
The device’s unique feature is that it mimics the natural water cycle, which evaporates and condenses repeatedly in nature. According to Dr. Michael Tam, a professor in Waterloo’s Department of Chemical Engineering, the team was inspired by the way trees transport water from their roots to their leaves and how water moves through the environment.
By replicating this process, the device allows seawater to be desalinated continuously and efficiently, without the salt build-up that often disrupts traditional systems.
In conventional desalination systems, accumulated salt blocks the membranes used to separate fresh water from salt, requiring frequent cleaning and often process interruptions.
The new technology, on the other hand, works in a closed cycle, where water evaporates, condenses and the salt is separated continuously. This eliminates the need for constant cleaning and increases the durability of the system.
Solar Energy: The Secret to High Efficiency
One of the most impressive aspects of the device is its efficient use of solar energy. By harnessing 93% of the sunlight it receives, the system transforms this energy into heat, which is used to evaporate seawater and thus produce drinking water.
With this energy efficiency, the device is capable of generating 20 liters of drinking water per square meter daily, an amount sufficient to meet the World Health Organization's daily water consumption recommendation.
The secret to its efficiency lies in the innovative materials used in the device. Researchers Eva Wang and Weinan Zhao, PhD students at the University of Waterloo, developed the system using a nickel foam coated with a conductive polymer and thermoresponsive pollen particles.
These materials absorb sunlight extremely effectively, converting it into heat to warm and evaporate seawater.
The salt water is heated and then transported to an upper layer where it evaporates, while the salt remains in the lower layer, preventing blockages and ensuring continuous operation.
A desalination solution for remote regions
In addition to its high efficiency, the device also has another crucial advantage: portability. This makes it a viable option for communities in remote areas without easy access to clean water.
Dr. Yuning Li, a professor in Waterloo’s Department of Chemical Engineering and a co-author of the project, says the device is ideal for isolated regions where freshwater shortages are a serious problem.
The ability to operate anywhere with access to sunlight makes the device a practical and affordable solution for many coastal and island communities.
In these locations, desalination is already an essential process, and the introduction of a cheaper, more efficient and portable technology could be revolutionary.
The University of Waterloo team is confident that this innovation could have a significant impact on tackling the global water crisis.
The next step in developing the technology is to build larger prototypes and test them in real environments, such as at sea, to assess their potential for expansion.
If these tests are successful, the device could be produced on a large scale, offering a viable and sustainable solution for communities around the world.
This technology also aligns with several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including the goal of ensuring universal and equitable access to safe drinking water (SDG 6), promoting climate action (SDG 13) and fostering innovation in infrastructure (SDG 9).
The adoption of solar-powered desalination technologies could be a literal game changer in the fight against water scarcity and the impacts of climate change on coastal and island regions.
Wonderful. Let's see if it reaches those most in need.
We will also have to worry about the growth of the world population because the way the world population is growing, there will come a day when we will no longer have natural resources to feed everyone. I think the UN should already be concerned and already doing something to solve this problem of population growth.
How to obtain this device? Here in Mozambique it would be a very viable alternative for arid areas that have brackish water… I would like to receive this invitation to learn how to manufacture this device…