Basque company proposes a system to profitably desalinate water: How does it work?

2023-06-18 14:53:57

Currently, water desalination is not profitable due to its high costs and environmental impact.

The scarcity of water, a vital resource for humanity, has become a worrying problem throughout the world. As the population grows and global warming continues, the availability of fresh water has been drastically reduced, even in regions where there has never been any concern about it before.

Fortunately, however, there is an answer to this crisis: desalination of seawater. Although up to now this solution has not been profitable, a Basque company is about to change that reality.

Elytt Energy, a company based in the Basque Country, is about to prove that it is possible halve the energy required to desalinate seawater using magnetic fields. This innovative technology has been developed by EMSC Global Water Solutions, an engineering company that has partnered with Elytt Energy to put its theory into practice. The Basques are experts in magnetic fields, having previously used in particle accelerators and fusion reactors.

A project that could change everything

The revolutionary project has been called MURA (Magnetikoki Ura Gaztgabetuta- Magnetically Desalinated Water) and has the financial backing of SPRI, the Basque Business Development Agency, for its development over the next two years. If the goal is achieved, as everyone at Elytt Energy is confident, the dream of ensuring human survival with seawater would be one step closer. With a 50% reduction in energy coststhis invention would facilitate the production of hydrogen, the supply of drinking water at a cost of 0.8 dollars per cubic meter and its use in agriculture.

The collaboration between Elytt Energy and EMSC Global Water Solutions has opened up new possibilities in the field of seawater desalination. By using magnetic fields, it has been found that it is possible to significantly reduce the energy required for this process. This revolutionary technology has the potential to make desalination more efficient and cost-effective, paving the way for greater freshwater availability.

The SPRI-supported MURA project aims to develop a scale model that confirms the feasibility of magnetic desalination of seawater. If the goal is achieved, this technological breakthrough is expected to have a significant impact on hydrogen production, drinking water supply and agriculture. The reduction of 50% on energy costs it would make desalination more affordable and allow more extensive use of this technology around the world.

“We are talking about a very important leap. Of course, for all this to finally happen, hydrogen, drinking water, irrigation use… someone will have to look at the prototype, invest and bring it to the market. And, on the other hand, there would be the economic battle with large business groups dedicated to desalination”, says Elytt’s commercial manager, Ángel García. He prefers not to get ahead of the facts and hope that the experiments continue to give good results.

Magnetic desalination of seawater represents hope for addressing water scarcity and ensuring a sustainable supply of freshwater. If the MURA project is successful, it will open up new opportunities to address global water challenges. Hydrogen production and access to affordable drinking water are just the beginning. With a focus on research and development of innovative technologies, humanity can move towards a future in which water is an abundant and sustainable resource for all.

Reverse Osmosis Desalination: Why Is It Not Profitable Today?

The desalination of seawater through the reverse osmosis process it is a commonly used method of obtaining fresh water from salt water.

Reverse osmosis desalination is based on applying pressure to seawater through a semipermeable membraneallowing water molecules to pass through the membrane while retaining ions and impurities.

Pretreatment: Seawater passes through a series of filters and pretreatment processes to remove suspended solids, large particles, and organic matter that could clog the membrane and reduce its efficiency.

Inverse osmosis: The pre-treated water is pressurized and passed through a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane allows water molecules to pass through it, while retaining ions, salts, and other impurities dissolved in seawater.

Post-treatment: Desalinated water obtained through reverse osmosis can undergo a post-treatment stage to adjust its pH, remove any remaining chemical residue, and improve its taste.

The main reason that reverse osmosis seawater desalination is not cost effective today is due to the high costs associated with the process. Some of the factors that contribute to this lack of profitability include:

Energy consumption: Reverse osmosis requires a large amount of energy to pressurize seawater and force it through the semi-permeable membrane. High energy consumption represents a significant cost in the desalination process.

Membrane maintenance: The membranes used in reverse osmosis are expensive and require regular maintenance. Cleaning and replacement of membranes can generate considerable additional expenses.

Environmental impact: Seawater desalination can have a negative impact on the environment due to the use of large amounts of energy, the emission of greenhouse gases and the elimination of saline waste generated during the process.