A new energy-efficient device produces drinking water from seawater using an evaporation process, continuously desalinating water without needing major maintenance. The device mirrors how trees transport water from roots to leaves, and it continuously induces water to evaporate, transports it to the surface, and condenses it in a closed cycle, effectively preventing accumulation of salt which reduces the device’s efficiency. Solar-powered, it can convert about 93% of the sun into energy, five times better than current desalination systems and produce about 20 liters of fresh water per square meter, the amount the World Health Organization recommends each person needs every day for basic drinking and hygiene.
uwaterloo.ca/news/media/turning-seawater-fresh-water-through-solar-power