Ambient energy for low-cost water desalination

The paper presents the results of a feasibility study to assess the potenti al of ambient energy in producing low-cost desalinated water. The proposed method uses conventional off-the-shelf desalination equipment linked up to an innovative energy harvesting system made of extruded aluminium planks wh ich form part of the building and which is able to provide low-cost energy for the desalination process. The most common energy collection system form s an engineered roof of a building. Water is pumped through this roof to co llect solar and ambient energy that can then be used for a variety of appli cations. Results from an EC-funded feasibility study to assess the potentia l of using ambient energy to produce fresh water from seawater are presente d here. It is felt that the technology offers good potential for water desa lination in arid and semi-arid regions of the world where there is an abund ance of solar and ambient energy.