Desalination is nothing new – the Ancient Greeks understood it, as did the Han Dynasty Chinese. However, the challenge of providing sufficient cheap energy to power the process at scale means desalination projects in remote, low-income areas have historically been unviable.
A new desalination system design, created by MIT engineers, may change that.
The new approach involves increasing and decreasing the system’s production levels in line with changes in the level of sunlight: When sunlight is plentiful, activity levels can be increased; when sunlight levels decrease (for example, when large clouds pass over), the system can be dialed down accordingly.
Crucially, this means no external power sources are required to smooth out activity when levels of sunlight are low (as with traditional solar-powered systems).
The team conducted a six-month test of a community-scale prototype in New Mexico and found that the system utilized an average of 94% of energy generated by its solar panels, producing up to 5,000 liters of fresh water per day despite varying weather conditions.
Achieving this level of energy efficiency without external power sources may have transformative implications for communities that do not have easy access to cheap batteries or grid power.
“Groundwater is becoming more and more saline due to climate change,” says MIT phD student Jonathan Bessette. “This technology could bring sustainable, affordable clean water to underreached places around the world.”
A record number of conflicts over water resources and infrastructure were recorded in 2023, according to the Pacific Institute’s Water Conflict Chronology. New technologies enabling communities to utilize previously untapped water supplies could reverse this trend.
