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Solar Powered Water Desalination

EWM FAQs

Why use reverse osmosis?

Commercial desalination technologies generally fall into two main categories:

Thermal Distillation: This method involves boiling saline water and then condensing the vapour to obtain fresh water. Techniques like Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) and Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) fall under this category.

Membrane Separation: This includes Reverse Osmosis (RO), which uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove dissolved solids. Reverse Osmosis is the predominant desalination method due to its lower capital and energy costs and its modular nature.

By 2010, Reverse Osmosis accounted for 60% of the installed desalination capacity. Thermal distillation is generally only practical when there is a source of waste heat, such as from a power plant—a situation that is not common. This makes Reverse Osmosis the more favourable option.

By eliminating the need for chemical additives, the system simplifies maintenance, avoids harmful discharge, and ensures compliance with strict environmental standards—making it a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable solution.

The need for additional water supplies is critical in many arid regions and will become increasingly important in the future due to the scarcity of freshwater resources. Many of these areas lack surface water sources like rivers and lakes and may only have limited underground water resources.

These underground sources are often becoming more brackish due to ongoing extraction and depletion. Solar-powered desalination provides a viable solution to access fresh water in the face of scarcity, adaptable to a wide range of applications.

Seawater desalination is ideal for arid coastal regions seeking to augment their fresh water supplies. Brackish desalination helps inland communities utilise water sources that are too salty for conventional treatment methods. There are over 15,000 desalination facilities globally, along with numerous small-scale systems. 

As fresh water scarcity increases, desalination is becoming an essential complement to traditional water supply methods worldwide.

Yes, we value local knowledge and collaboration highly. We maintain strong working relationships with local partners throughout the planning, preparation, and execution of each project. 

Governments often hold legal responsibilities for fresh water supply and distribution. Given the importance of local expertise, we are always interested in connecting with partners or individuals who understand this niche market.

Additionally, while we utilise state-of-the-art, proven technology, we are also keen on exploring new developments and research in our field. Please reach out to discuss potential opportunities.

Yes, they are. Many regions around the world face severe fresh water shortages. According to 2010 data from WHO and UNICEF, approximately 2.1 billion people lacked access to safe water, with 900 million lacking access to an improved water source and 1.2 billion having access to an improved source but with unsafe water quality. 

Disparities are especially pronounced between urban and rural areas, with over 1.6 billion people in rural areas lacking safe water, while urban coverage struggles to keep pace with population growth.

Water kiosks offer a sustainable solution by providing affordable, safe water to millions living in polluted areas. 

Many successful projects have implemented various operating models, and the sector is vibrant with innovations in governance, operations management, and marketing. Stakeholders in the water kiosk concept include NGOs, government organisations, and local entrepreneurs. If you are interested in developing a local business model for a water kiosk using our renewable-driven desalination solution, please contact us.

We ensure that all health, safety, and labour regulations are met, and we commit to delivering the specified water production quantity and quality. Since installations are customised, we will ensure the system operates as intended and that the operational phase meets your satisfaction.

Specific guarantees depend on factors such as the intended use of the water, location, and production scale. 

These details will be discussed during the proposal phase, once we fully understand your goals and requirements for the fresh water supply at your site.

The operational costs of reverse osmosis systems typically include electricity, membrane replacements, consumables such as pre-filters, spare parts, and labour. 

Electricity costs usually make up over 50% of these expenses. 

As our solution is powered by renewable energy, these electricity costs are eliminated, significantly reducing other operational costs. 

The exact operational costs will depend on the system’s production size, the quality of the source water, and the water intake specifics – these will be detailed in your quote. Our long-term sustainable solutions are designed to ensure minimal maintenance.

Depending on your preferences, location, and available in-house staff, we can either provide professional training for system operation or offer maintenance services.

Most components require minimal to no maintenance.

PV panels have a long lifespan and need only occasional rinsing with water, depending on the environment. Pipes and water tanks are durable and long-lasting, while the pump is designed to withstand saline water and be maintenance-free for years. 

The water treatment process includes pre-treatment, reverse osmosis, and post-treatment. Maintenance tasks, based on source water quality and intended use, include periodic cleaning or replacing pre-filters and reverse osmosis membranes, and after several years, replacing parts of the energy recovery device and feed pump.

We ensure that spare parts are readily available through our spare parts package, partnerships with local suppliers, and by keeping a stock.

We ensure that all pipes meet the required pressure and temperature specifications to prevent failures. HDPE pipes, which are strong yet flexible, are preferred for outdoor sections due to their durability.

We usually bury these pipes underground to minimise the risk of damage from human activity. In the rare event of a pipe leak, it will be evident from the system’s performance, and the leak can be quickly located and repaired.

Yes, most of our solar-powered desalination systems come with remote monitoring as a standard feature to help reduce on-site labour costs and provide real-time performance data. 

This includes information on water quality, quantity produced, solar panel efficiency, and battery or elevated buffer levels. The system can also send alerts via text messages or emails for any issues requiring attention. Remote monitoring enables quicker and precise troubleshooting, helping schedule preventive maintenance, ensuring water quality, and minimising downtime.

The time from order to commissioning depends on factors like location and water demand. 

For urgent needs, we can dispatch highly efficient units that can be operational within a week of arrival on site, producing water within 3 days.

Solar-powered desalination systems typically require 1-2 months for shipment. Accounting for sea transport and time for preparatory civil work, this extends to an additional 3-4 weeks. Local installation usually takes 1-3 weeks, resulting in a total timeframe of 2-3.5 months for solar-powered units. Alternatively, a hybrid approach can be used where local energy supports immediate system deployment and water production, with the solar component installed later.

We will configure your source water intake through a beach well, open ocean intake, or borehole. During the design phase, we will prioritise minimising visual impact and avoiding disturbances to the marine environment. The specific arrangement depends on the location and the quality of the source water.

For brackish water, which is often found underground, a borehole will be drilled to house a submersible pump or a pipe with a check valve for suction from a surface pump.

For seawater, the intake method depends on the shoreline and local regulations. Seawater can be drawn in using a beach well, where the sand provides natural pre-filtration, or through an open seawater intake with a pipe extending into the sea. The length of the pipe depends on local conditions.

No, our solar-powered desalination units generate all necessary energy from the sun, eliminating the need for expensive electricity bills or diesel fuel.

This makes the solution ideal for stand-alone, off-grid, and remote locations. However, we offer the option to use local power sources (grid, generator, or mini-grid) to increase production capacity when needed or as a backup. Systems that rely on local energy will require an electricity supply.

Permits are typically needed depending on the project’s location, daily production capacity, and end-user. Usually,  permits for construction and source water intake are required. We are happy to assist with identifying and arranging the necessary documentation.

The reverse osmosis process produces three flows: one feed flow and two outlet flows, which include fresh water and salty water, also known as concentrate or brine. 

We carefully study the most suitable disposal options for the brine to minimise environmental impact and ensure the longevity of the reverse osmosis membranes.

Our systems operate with a low recovery ratio, resulting in a concentrated flow with salinity levels similar to the original source water, which limits impact on marine life. We ensure proper mixing of the brine with seawater and adhere to local regulations to mitigate any potential local impact.

From a global perspective, seawater is a virtually limitless resource, much like the renewable energy used.

Our smallest units produce 840 litres (220 gallons) per day. We offer customised solutions for any water production capacity beyond this minimum, with a focus on systems up to 1,000 m³ (1,000,000 litres) or 26,400 gallons per day. Please contact us for a quote tailored to your specific water capacity needs.

In most cases, retrofitting renewable energy sources to an existing reverse osmosis system is not feasible.

Existing systems are typically designed for high pressure and operate with different recovery ratios and electricity controls. Retrofitting would likely require replacing most of the existing equipment. However, integrating renewable energy solutions can lead to significant cost savings and a rapid return on investment. If you are interested in improving your fresh water supply, please contact us with details about your current setup.

Yes, reverse osmosis effectively removes salts, contaminants, viruses, and bacteria. The process uses a multi-layer membrane that filters water under pressure, retaining particles larger than its tiny pores. To ensure consistent quality, real-time monitoring is included in our solutions. Reverse osmosis has a long history of providing potable water, and additional post-treatment steps such as remineralization and UV treatment can be included to meet local standards and regulations.

We will ensure the water quality meets your expectations and complies with all relevant standards.

Can’t find what you are looking for? Get in touch with Bluemont on  +61 2 9091 0360 or email us at sale@avjenvironmental.com to learn more about solar powered desalination systems by EWM!