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- Solar panels mining water from the air in Queensland, Australia
Solar panels mining water from the air in Queensland, Australia
Australia
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last monthProblems
Australia's water crisis
Australia is known as the driest inhabited continent in the world, with 70% of the mainland receiving less than 500mm of rain annually. The driest regions of Australia are located on the west coast near Shark Bay, across the interior of Western Australia and northern South Australia into south-western Queensland and north-western New South Wales. These regions receive an average of less than 200 mm of rainfall per year. Regarding water usage, Australians consume about 340 litres of water per person per day. In the financial year 2019-2020, total water use in Australia remained stable at 77,367 gigalitres (GL), while total water consumption fell to 11,231 GL5. Over the next ten years, river flows across Australia could drop by 10-25%, increasing pressure on the country’s water systems. Lower rainfall has led to a reduced share of water in storage dams across the country, with water catchments struggling to maintain a sustainable water supply in most regions.
Solutions
Solar panels mining water from the air
Author: ARENA
Zero Mass Water's sustainable hydropanel solution recognises bottled water manufacturing is energy- and water-intensive. Most bottled water is packaged in PET, plastic made from fossil fuels. If not recycled, millions of plastic bottles end up in landfill. It then takes tens of thousands of years to break down. ARENA is providing Zero Mass Water with $420,000 in funding for the SOURCE Hydropanel Demonstration Project, a $871,000 pilot program that will see 150 SOURCE hydropanels installed across Australia. Instead of filtering groundwater, the SOURCE hydro panels collect water vapour from the air, even in areas of low humidity. The SOURCE system is infrastructure-free. There are no wires or pipes except a single tube running from the panel to the tap. The Source hydro panels produce pure water by harnessing the sun's power and the air's moisture. Utilising only the sun's power, the panels don't require external electricity or water. Depending on the climate, they can produce up to 5 litres of clean drinking water on a standard day. After it is condensed, it flows into a reservoir below the panel, where it runs through a mineral block that adds magnesium and calcium, common in drinking water. Each Source hydro panel produces enough water to displace over 20,000 plastic water bottles over 15 years and its expected lifetime, over 70,000 plastic bottles, according to the company's Founder and Chief Executive, Cody Friesen. Pure water produced on-site that is free of chemicals and has a reduced risk of contamination is the result. It’s also zero waste – no more plastic water bottles on the ground or in landfills. The pilot marks the first use of the SOURCE technology in Australia. In agriculture, companies could provide a reliable water supply during drought. Furthermore, it could provide water in remote locations without access to potable water or electricity.
Gallery
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Timelines
2023
A groundbreaking deal was made in the bottled water industry. SOURCE Global, the creator of the SOURCE® Hydropanel, a revolutionary technology that produces renewable drinking water from the air, acquired Proud Source Water, a pioneer in eco-friendly spring water packaging.
2022
Source’s hydro panels were installed in 52 countries in 450 separate projects. Backers include Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
2020
Preorders began, and installations were scheduled to begin in summer 20203. The new Source Rexi Hydropanels were retailing for $2,500.
2018
ARENA provided around $420,000 in grants to help Zero Mass Water set up 150 water systems across Australia as a trial. It was estimated that this would result in 20,000 plastic water bottles not being used over the 15-year length of the project.
2017
Zero Mass Water and ARENA (the Australian Renewable Energy Agency) began working together to investigate the potential for SOURCE Hydropanels to provide solutions for Australian industry.