Solar Desalination System

A new, stand-alone system for generating potable water from seawater could help address the extreme droughts that many areas of the world are experiencing as a result of climate change. Housed in a small shipping container, the reverse osmosis (RO) system can operate totally off the grid, without the need for batteries or diesel power.

Although the use of reverse osmosis devices for desalination is not new, this system represents a breakthrough in technology because it automatically maintains the constant pressure required for RO to function properly. This greatly reduces the amount of electricity required, enabling it to work off of solar panels connected directly to the system. It can also be switched to generator or grid power during non-solar hours.

A modular design allows the device to be scaled to suit the needs of the consumer – up to 7,000 liters (more than 1,800 gallons) per hour for seawater and up to 10,000 liters (more than 2,600 gallons) per hour for a system that processes brackish water. The technology also includes a membrane filter to remove bacteria, viruses and other contaminants.

As smaller countries throughout the world look for ways to generate their own renewable power, systems such as this will allow them to integrate clean drinking water into the local infrastructure to meet the demands of households as well as agriculture.