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Innovation on Culatra Island
Researchers André Pacheco, Cláudia Sequeira (CIMA), and Manuela Moreira da Silva (CIMA/CEiiA), in collaboration with Vânia Serrão Sousa from CENSE/FCT NOVA, published the results of a new, non-intrusive solar desalination prototype, which is being tested on Culatra Island as part of the Culatra2030 initiative.
👉The prototype financed by Zenon/SMILO – Small Islands Organization, and CIMA, was built by Rolear with recyclable materials. The prototype features high conductivity removal (above 99%), demonstrating the potential of this technology to produce fresh water from seawater, providing high-quality desalinated water, in different seasons of the year, with maximum production of 6Lday /m2 in summer. These results are promising, as the modular design allows for scalability and adaptability, and N modular units can be installed to meet the water needs of small island/coastal communities. The article “Enhancing efficiency in solar non-intrusive desalination: Solar still prototype optimization in Southwest Europe” was published in Elsevier's Desalination magazine.
