Seventy-one percent of Earth's surface is covered by water, but less than three percent is suitable for human consumption. Desalination is one of humanity's most important resources for treating saltwater; however, costs are often too high for widespread adoption. The new system created by MIT is not only economical but also uses solar energy as its power source.
Desalination: A Global Challenge
Desalination plants are nothing new. In fact, Spain built the first one in all of Europe in the mid-1960s and is the world's fifth-largest desalination country, processing nearly one and a half million cubic liters per day. While developed nations can face the challenge of desalination, both the overall cost and the lack of infrastructure complicate the process elsewhere. Lack of access to safe water leads to serious diseases, limited agriculture, production problems, and many other inconveniences.
In an attempt to correct this, USAID, the famous and controversial US development agency, organized the Desal Prize, which distributes hundreds of thousands of dollars among the most sustainable and efficient desalination solutions.
The Winning MIT and Jain System
The first prize went to the system created by MIT and Jain Irrigation Systems. This platform relies on a series of solar panels that recharge batteries designed to separate salt from water via electrodialysis. In addition to removing salt, it also has the ability to apply ultraviolet light to the desalinated water, helping eliminate bacteria and purify it. The result is water suitable for both human consumption and agriculture. According to available information, the proof of concept ran for 24 hours without interruption, processing just over 7,900 liters.
The next step is to take the system out of this controlled environment and into an area more exposed to the daily rigors of farming and livestock. In theory, its performance would be enough to supply a small farm, but it seems its developers prioritize improving the design and increasing net capacity. The drought in California has hit hard and serves as a stark reminder to keep optimizing desalination technology.
