{"id":118917,"date":"2023-10-10T14:54:44","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T18:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/?p=118917"},"modified":"2023-10-10T14:55:47","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T18:55:47","slug":"solar-energy-used-in-new-technology-to-turn-seawater-into-drinking-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/solar-energy-used-in-new-technology-to-turn-seawater-into-drinking-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar Energy Used in New Technology to Turn Seawater Into Drinking Water"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Samhar Almomani, Publishing Associate<\/span>: Researcher and Writer<\/span> at Save the Water\u2122 | October 10, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n Solar energy is being explored as a promising way of creating a sustainable freshwater supply. In theory, using solar energy in this way is cheap and effective. <\/span>However, advances in this technology have been set back by performance degradation that results from salt build-up.<\/span><\/a> For a long time, the dream of being able to use solar energy to produce freshwater seemed out of reach.<\/span><\/p>\n Climate change has caused the drying of many important freshwater sources<\/span><\/a>. Thus, scientists have prioritized the search for a sustainable and effective way of creating drinking water. People may be facing a large-scale drought soon unless new solutions are found. This urgency has resulted in cross-collaboration between engineers, energy scientists, environmental researchers, and policymakers.<\/span><\/p>\n A recent article<\/span><\/a> shows that the logistical problems that researchers were facing with performance decay could be reduced by using \u201ca confined saline layer as an evaporator.\u201d <\/span>The evaporator layer works by using sunlight heat<\/span><\/a> to evaporate water. Then, the vaporized water gets funneled to another section of the device. This leaves the salt behind, allowing it to be separated from the seawater and create drinking water.<\/span><\/p>\n This device has been shown to be highly effective. <\/span>It\u2019s said to have a high water production rate than other solar water desalination techniques that are being studied.<\/span><\/a> Additionally, it has a higher salt rejection rate than those techniques.The researchers have predicted that if this device was scaled up to the size of a small suitcase, it would be able to produce four to six liters of drinking water every hour. Furthermore, it would last years before needing any replacement parts. This means that it can be sent to other countries that are at a higher risk of drought at a low cost.<\/span><\/p>\n This technology is promising because it can also be used in households. For example, a scaled-up device would be able to produce enough drinking water to meet the daily needs of a small family. Moreover, scientists have<\/span> suggested that the technology would be very helpful for off-grid coastal communities<\/span><\/a>. It would provide a way for them to access much-needed drinking water.<\/span><\/p>\n Water scarcity is a real threat to many communities around the world<\/span><\/a>. Many regions are already <\/span>struggling with the worst consequences of not having enough water to conduct their day-to-day activities<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n Researchers predict that we\u2019re on the verge of an imminent water crisis<\/span><\/a>. The United Nations and other organizations <\/span>expect that demand will outstrip supply<\/span><\/a> for freshwater by 40% at the end of the decade. <\/span>Due to the seriousness and urgency of the situation, many nations have prioritized this crisis<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor the first time, it is possible for water, produced by sunlight, to be even cheaper than tap water,\u201d <\/span>co-author Lenan Zhang, a mechanical engineer at MIT\u2019s Device Research Laboratory, said in a statement.<\/span><\/a> If the device works as predicted, it will mean that we\u2019re one step closer to ensuring that people around the world won\u2019t run out of freshwater supply. Although one caveat is that the device is still small for now, researchers have plans of upscaling it and making it more efficient in water production.<\/span><\/p>\nUsing New Solar Energy Technology\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Why is Solar Energy Technology Important?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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What Comes Next for Solar Energy ?<\/span><\/h2>\n