MIT Develops Solar-Powered Desalination System Without Batteries

This innovative system efficiently produces clean water by adapting to solar energy fluctuations, offering a sustainable solution for inland communities.

• The system uses a novel electrodialysis process that adjusts in real-time to changes in sunlight, eliminating the need for battery storage.
• Field tests in New Mexico showed the system could desalinate up to 5,000 liters of water per day, using over 94% of solar panel energy.
• Designed to desalinate brackish groundwater, the system targets inland and remote communities with limited access to seawater and grid power.
• The technology's rapid response time allows it to alter desalination rates three to five times per second, significantly enhancing efficiency.
• Researchers aim to expand the system's capacity to serve larger communities, with plans to commercialize the technology in the near future.

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