Writer: Maximus Yu
 

The inadequacy of fresh water supply has long been a life-threatening challenge faced by many people in various parts of the world. Currently, more than 2 billion people lack adequate access to fresh water. On top of that, scientists estimate that half of the population will live in water-stressed areas by 2025. The rapid growth in the Earth’s population and the intensification of climate change only put a heavier toll on the Earth’s limited water supplies. Also, due to climate change, droughts are becoming more frequent and sever, glaciers are continuing to melt, and freshwater sources are depleting at an ever-increasing pace. 

Off the coast of East Timor, there is a tiny island called Atauro. People living there have been struggling with water shortages for many years. Atauro has no water-supply infrastructure, causing its 10,000 inhabitants on the island to live off rainwater and bottled water. But they have finally found a solution and secured a safe and reliable fresh water supply, in exchange of only air and the power of the Sun.

How? This is all thanks to the U.S. technology firm, Zero Mass Water(now named as Source)’s new invention– hydropanels. Their hydropanel is an innovation to regular solar panels. Same as solar panels, they can utilize sunlight to create electricity, in addition, they can also extract water from the air. Their design consists of two hydropanels connected with a single solar panel in the middle. When sunlight hits the panels, solar energy is first absorbed to generate electricity for hydropanels to generate heat. After that, a built-in fan draws in ambient air that flows to a hygroscopic material, used to collect water vapor from the air. Lastly, the water vapor is condensed and stored in a reservoir tank inside the hydro panel, where it is mineralized to make perfect drinking water. From there on, the reservoir directly leads fresh drinking water to taps or refrigerators in houses, schools, and office buildings throughout the Island.

This project is the combined effort of the U.S. non-profit Conservation International and a technology firm. For the first time ever, the villagers in Atauro have a renewable source of water to depend on. Not only does this project help drastically reduce plastic water bottle waste, but it also produces approximately 12,000 liters of fresh water a month.

Zero Mass Water has been working on spreading its technology and has already successfully set up its hydropanels in more than 35 countries. This innovative technology sets the path for other advanced renewable energy. It is important to keep an open mind and embrace new ways to tackle climate change.


Source:

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/plastic-bottles-offset-as-remote-town-gets-renewable-drinking-water/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/05/hydropanels-water-from-air

Image Source:

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/plastic-bottles-offset-as-remote-town-gets-renewable-drinking-water/