EWM Solar Desalination Systems combines reverse osmosis and energy recovery technology to bring you the most energy-efficient solar desalination process.  This is the FIRST system of its type, running without batteries, 24 hours a day.
What is Reverse Osmosis Desalination?
Reverse osmosis desalination is the process of transforming seawater or brackish water into fresh and drinkable water. It is done by running seawater through a fine filtering process to remove salt, sediment, and contaminants and obtain clean water for drinking, washing, and other purposes.Â
The Problem with Conventional Desalination System
While the desalination concept itself is transformative, conventional desalination solutions are energy-consuming and can be a nightmare to maintain. They rely a lot on fossil fuels and are not ideal for off-grid applications. These systems use chemicals for filtering. These desalination technologies are also infamous for their environmental footprint, prone to corrosion, and demand complex maintenance procedures as they utilise specialised equipment.
For these reasons, desalination systems have been off-limits for public use.Â
EWM solar desalination systems resolve all these drawbacks to make desalination an accessible, sustainable, and reliable choice for both the general public and local governements.
Three features that make our solar powered desalination systems outstanding
- Energy recovery technology saves up to 70% of energy
- Chemical-free water treatment process designÂ
- Seamless, stress-free operation & maintenance
- 100% solar powered. This hybrid system can also be recharged via mains power, generator or batteries – offering full flexibility.
The Solar Desalination Process of EWM Systems
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how our system is engineered to desalinate seawater!
Source Water Intake and Pre-Treatment
The first step is identifying a saltwater source without disturbing the marine environment. It can be a beach well, open ocean intake, or borehole.
The intake pump at the source will extract seawater or brackish water and supply it continuously into the desalination system. It is integrated with a pre-treatment system to remove sand and other large particles. They are backwashed periodically.
Solar Desalination
In reverse osmosis, the system pushes salt water through the permeable membrane to separate the salt particles, bacteria, and viruses down to a size of 0.0001 microns, producing clean water. The system uses a high pressure of 50 bar (725 psi) for optimum efficacy.
Energy Recovery
The hydraulic energy created during the reverse osmosis pressure is captured and re-used to pressurise the feed water. It lowers the energy consumption of the desalination plant significantly. It is what makes our solar desalination process highly energy-efficient and cost-effective.Â
Remineralization
The filtered water is then mineralized to reduce the aggressiveness and improve the taste.Â
Water Storage
This system stores purified water in a tank. The choice of storage can be anything from an underground cistern to a plastic tank to a corrugated coated tank. The solar desalination unit will automatically start when the water level goes below the full capacity, so you have a continuous supply of fresh water.Â
Post-treatment
If required, you can have an Ultraviolet (UV), cartridge & active-carbon filter treatment unit to remove bacterial growth during water storage and distribution. Then, you can obtain fresh water at your will!Â
Remote Control
The solar desalination unit has GSM-based monitoring for remote control and alarm messaging. You can stay updated about the water level and operate it anytime. An online remote monitoring portal is also available upon request.Â
Unique Energy Recovery Technology
Unique Energy Recovery Technology allows EWM systems to consume 70% less electricity than conventional desalination by re-using the saltwater flow of the reverse osmosis process. It saves 7 kWh on each m³ of water produced. Our energy recovery device is maintenance-free.Â
While the technology is readily available for large sites, solutions by EWM are designed to suit small-scale applications in residential and commercial spaces.Â
Why Choose Solar Desalination?
EWM’s solar desalination systems are the first in the world to operate without batteries, running 24 hours a day.
They are compatible with any local electricity supply, whether 50 or 60 Hz, single or three-phase, and various global voltages. This compatibility ensures efficient operation and reduces energy costs.
Supporting water production capacities between 5-150 m³ or 5,000-50,000 litres per day, our solar desalination process boasts an exceptional energy efficiency of approximately 2.7 kWh/m³ for seawater desalination. Our products come in various sizes, with larger sizes offering lower desalination costs.
We are EWM systems’ distributors within Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. Contact us today to find out more. Our expert team will be happy to answer your questions and guide you through your next water desalination project.