By maximising available solar power for water production, scientists produced drinking water cheaper than ever before in lower-income countries.
Scientists have developed a new solar-powered system to convert saltwater into fresh drinking water which they say could help reduce dangerous waterborne diseases like cholera.
In a paper published today in Nature Water, researchers show that the process is more than 20% cheaper than traditional methods and can be deployed in rural locations around the globe.
Following testing in rural communities, they found new technology could signal a step change in providing clean water in developing countries and beyond.
Consequently, there is a pressing need for efficient desalination methods to create fresh drinking water cheaply, and at scale.
In developing countries’ rural areas, the grid infrastructure can be unreliable and is largely reliant on fossil fuels.
The system automatically adjusted the voltage and the rate at which salt water flowed through it dependent on variable levels of sunshine. »
