MIT scientists use solar tech to remove salt from water
Summary
Now, scientists are learning about applications to harness solar energy to provide daily drinking water. A prototype solar-powered water desalination system has been developed by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which can achieve a very high solar-to-vapor efficiency through a multi-state evaporation process. Rather than using photovoltaics for power, the method relies on solar absorption techniques to gather heat and evaporate saltwater. The prototype at MIT delivered clean water at a rate of nearly six liters per hour per square meter of the solar collection area. The device is described in a paper by MIT and will one day meet commercial use, which will be especially useful in regions of the world that have limited infrastructure, but no shortage of saltwater and sun.