New Battery-Like Desalination Technology Provides Affordable and Eco-Friendly Solution for Clean Water in Rural AreasRevolutionary Solar-Powered System Turns Seawater into Drinking Water, Could Help Developing Countries Combat Waterborne Diseases. Credit: techxplore.com

A Group of Experts Develop Revolutionary Solar-Powered System to Produce Clean Drinking Water

A group of experts have devised a revolutionary solar-powered system that can turn seawater into clean drinking water, potentially reducing waterborne diseases such as cholera. Their findings, published in Nature Water, demonstrate that this method is over 20% more cost-effective than conventional methods and can be implemented in rural areas worldwide.

A Major Breakthrough in Providing Clean Water to Developing Countries

After successful trials in rural communities, the team believes this technology could be a major breakthrough in providing clean water to developing countries and beyond. According to Dr. Wei He from King's College London, this technology has the potential to benefit rural communities by providing them with a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative for accessing clean water.

Dr. He explains, "Our technology allows communities to tap into alternative sources of water, such as deep aquifers or saline water, to address the issue of water scarcity and contamination in traditional water supplies. By expanding the sources of water available to communities, we can help them combat water scarcity and unexpected emergencies, such as the recent cholera outbreaks in Zambia, when conventional water supplies are disrupted."

Addressing Water Scarcity and Contamination

Currently, around a quarter of the world's population faces extreme water stress, making it highly likely to experience water scarcity. In rural areas worldwide, 1.6 billion people have limited access to water, with many relying on overused and stressed groundwater sources. However, 56% of the world's groundwater is salty and not suitable for consumption. This issue is particularly prevalent in countries like India, where 60% of the land has undrinkable saline water. As a result, there is a dire need for affordable and efficient desalination methods to produce freshwater.

Revolutionizing Desalination Methods

Traditional desalination techniques require expensive batteries for off-grid systems or rely on a grid system that supplies energy to remove salt from water. In developing countries, where the grid infrastructure is unreliable and often runs on fossil fuels, these methods are not viable. This new "battery-like" desalination technology eliminates the need for batteries and reduces reliance on them by 92%, making it more accessible to rural communities in developing countries like India.

Dr. He adds, "Conventional desalination methods are energy-intensive and costly, limiting their use to areas with stable power and financial resources. By eliminating the need for a grid system and reducing reliance on battery technology, our system can provide reliable access to clean drinking water at a 22% lower cost compared to traditional methods."

Potential for Other Sectors

Apart from rural areas, this technology also has the potential to be used in other sectors, such as agriculture, to alleviate the effects of climate change on freshwater resources. The team plans to collaborate with local partners to scale up the availability of this technology across India. A team from MIT is also working on creating a start-up to commercialize and fund this technology.

Dr. He states, "Water scarcity for irrigation is a global issue, affecting regions like North America, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Drought and cost are major challenges for the agriculture industry, which relies on unstable water reserves to survive. By providing an affordable and sustainable way to produce freshwater for irrigation without compromising its volume, we can help reduce costs, mitigate carbon emissions, and ensure stable agricultural production, ultimately benefiting consumers."

Advancing Towards a Net Zero Future

Even countries like the US and UK, with more stable and diversified grids, rely heavily on fossil fuels. By eliminating fossil fuels from energy-intensive sectors like agriculture, this technology can accelerate the transition to a Net Zero future. The team's next step is to apply this technology to other areas, such as wastewater treatment and producing alkaline to help the ocean absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere. By taking this approach, we can not only decarbonize agriculture but also achieve broader environmental and climate benefits.

Steven Russell
Steven Russell is a proficient entity from the Technology field. He completed Master’s Degree in Computer Science and Technology. He was engaged in the formation and administration of computational systems in his previous firm. He is associated with Industry News USA from last 2 years. Due to his command over the technology field, he has become the head of the Technology section in very less time period. “Latest gadgets” is the thing that attracts Steven the most.