The UNFCCC Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Initiative (WIPO), the Northeast Water Innovation Network (NEWIN), and InvenTrust are inviting to join an innovation competition to address two key challenges, essential in pathways to a global, safe, and sustainable future:
• Energy Efficient Water Desalination
• Eliminating Leakage in Water Distribution
Seawater desalination
-
Publication dateObjectiveSectors
-
-
SectorsObjective
Over 97% of the water on earth is unsuitable for human consumption due to its salinity. The vast majority (about 99%) of this is seawater, with most of the remainder consisting of saline groundwater (US Geological Survey, 2010). Purification of this saline water holds the promise of nearly unlimited water resources for human civilizations in coastal regions. However, purification of seawater is expensive, energy intensive and often has large adverse impacts on ecosystems. Despite these drawbacks, desalination can be an appropriate technological choice in certain settings.
-
Publication dateObjectiveSectorsApproach
The Climate Technology Centre is seeking proposals for the technologies for saline water purification at household level and low-cost durable housing for coastal areas of Bangladesh.
-
ObjectiveTechnology
Membrane which permeates solvent (water) but does not permeate solute (salt). In desalination, pressure up to 10MPa is applied to seawater which enables water to pass through the revere osmosis membrane, while the salt is excluded.
Currently, two types of material are used: bridged aromatic polyamides, and cellulose acetate. Membranes must withstand high pressure and also be resistant to fouling.