A study by the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) found that the energy generated by waves reaching the U.S. coast could cover 64% of the country’s energy consumption. With the vast potential of wave power and the abundance of water in the world’s oceans, it was inevitable that desalination plants utilizing ocean energy would be explored. A new prototype of a floating desalination plant further confirms the interest in these sustainable technologies.
A floating desalination plant made from 170,000 plastic bottles
A Canadian company has showcased the feasibility of a modular desalination buoy system. This system consists of a floating platform tethered to the seabed with a pipeline that transports freshwater to the shore.
Named Iceberg class, the initial device utilizes wave energy to pump water under pressure into a reverse osmosis desalination system, which is a widely used technology among desalination plants. This system can produce up to 50 cubic meters of water daily, enough to meet the needs of one hundred families of four.
The system is designed to be modular and scalable, with the capability to install multiple units side by side or choose from units of different sizes. In addition to the basic model, there are two smaller versions, with one designed for quick freshwater generation in humanitarian crises in coastal areas. This model can be likened to a portable desalination plant.
The desalination plant can operate with waves at a minimum of one meter in height and requires a seabed depth between thirteen and thirty meters. The Iceberg class machines are eight meters long, five meters wide, and weigh eleven thousand kilograms.
These new floating desalination plants are designed with a circular economy approach, using wave and solar energy for operation and mainly composed of recycled plastic. The basic model recycles up to 170,000 plastic bottles and includes protective meshes to safeguard marine life.
Each unit has a lifespan of fifteen to twenty years and requires minimal maintenance visits per year. Efforts are underway to develop industrial-scale floating desalination plants, with testing expected to commence in 2023.
Other floating desalination plant alternatives
In addition to Canadian desalination buoys, several other initiatives have emerged in recent years. For example, the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has tested a prototype similar to a Zodiac inflatable boat, harnessing wave energy for desalination.
Another prototype from a Norwegian company has been tested in the Canary Islands, using wave energy for the desalination process. Larger platforms for commercial use are anticipated based on the results of these tests.
While these prototypes are still experimental, they hold promise in addressing the freshwater challenge in the future. For more information on operational desalination technologies and offshore renewable energies, such as tidal and wave power, check out additional articles on the subject.
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