New desalination project strives to tackle global drinking water challenge
Over the next four years the new European Commission-funded REvivED water pilot project will contribute to addressing the world's drinking water challenge by establishing electrodialysis as the preferred process for desalination of seawater, in order to provide a source of safe, affordable, and cost-competitive drinking water.
The balance between drinking water demand and water availability has reached a critical level in many regions of the world. Factors such as climate change are causing more frequent and severe droughts which exacerbate these adverse conditions. With seawater making up 97.5% of the world's water resources, low energy desalination solutions will be crucial in providing sufficient levels of good quality drinking water for a growing global population.
Electrodialysis (ED) refers to movement of ions from one solution to another via a semi permeable membrane, while applying an electric potential. REvivED water, with a budget of €9.8 million, will focus on several different applications:
- Off-grid brackish water ED desalination in developing countries
- ED-based tap-water softening in Europe
- Industrial scale seawater ED desalination
- Industrial scale seawater desalination based on integration of ED with RED (Reverse ED) to reduce the energy consumption
- Industrial scale seawater reverse osmosis desalination combined with ED/RED for initial market introduction.
Pilot testing will take place in real environments to demonstrate achievements regarding energy consumption, water quality and cost price, among others.
This ambitious project was officially launched on 1 May 2016 and is due to run until April 2020. Representatives from all 10 European partner organisations met at the project kick-off meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on 8–9 June 2016 to discuss activities to be undertaken during the project's lifetime.
More information:
www.revivedwater.eu/
Provided by AquaTT
