Solar-thermal desalination process operates at near 100% efficiency
12 hours ago
- #Desalination
- #Water Sustainability
- #Solar-Thermal Technology
- Global freshwater scarcity affects 2.2 billion people, driving need for sustainable desalination.
- University of Rochester researchers developed a solar-thermal desalination process using a superwicking black metal panel.
- The system operates with sunlight alone, avoids brine waste, self-cleans, and recovers minerals like lithium and salt.
- It achieves high efficiency (74% solar-to-vapor conversion) and near-100% salt extraction from ocean water.
- Potential integration with solar cells could create a synergistic water-energy system for sustainability.