MIT Battery-Free Solar Desalination System¶
Rainwater & Storage • Est. CapEx: $10,000 USD • Lifespan: 7–15 Years
Technical Overview¶
A community-scale solar-powered desalination system that requires no batteries, designed for brackish groundwater in inland communities. It produced up to 5,000 liters per day in field tests in New Mexico.
Key Specifications & Engineering Parameters¶
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Category | Rainwater & Storage |
| Capital Cost (CapEx) | $10,000 USD |
| Power / Energy | Solar PV / Thermal |
| Target Scale | Village / Community (200–1,000+ people) |
| Standard Lifespan | 7–15 Years |
| Technology Maturity | Field Tested |
| Primary Mechanism | Uses photovoltaic panels to directly power a reverse osmosis pump; the system's electronics continuously vary power consumption to match real-time solar irradiance, eliminating the need for energy storage. |
Cross-Reference & Interactive Tools¶
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