Project description
Solar power for sustainable water desalination
In 2015, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs identified the shortage of freshwater as a growing problem globally. As such, seawater was converted into freshwater through desalination by using fossil fuels. However, fossil fuel emits pollutants and fastens climate change worsening the problem. Solar Water Plc has found a solution that relies on solar power to produce sustainable freshwater for domestic, and industrial use. The EU-funded SWCSP - Solar Water project aims to collect real-world data and create designs for an entirely functioning seawater desalination dome powered completely by solar energy. The technology uses concentrated solar power, avoids fossil fuels and remains low-cost, carbon-neutral and low-pollutant.
Objective
As only 3% of the world is freshwater and a growing population, (expected to hit 9.7 billions in 2050) it means that there is a growing problem with shortage of fresh water according to UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2015. The problem has been addressed so far by converting seawater into freshwater through desalination by using fossil fuels. It has been necessary to do this as the population of the earth shares the same 35 million km3 out of the 1.4 billion km3 water there is. Yet, this raise a new problem as the fossil fuel emits pollutants and speeds up climate change which in turn makes the water shortage problem even worse as it results in higher temperatures and droughts. Solar Water Plc has found another solution. In a laboratory it has been researched and tested that it is possible to use solar power to produce fresh water, suitable for drinking. The laboratory model can now be turned into a real world prototype; Field Demonstrator Model. This project aims at collecting real world data and creating designs for a fully functioning sea water desalination dome, powered 100% by solar energy to create sustainable fresh water for industrial, municipal, agricultural and domestic use. By using concentrated solar power, the technology avoids fossil fuels, is low cost, carbon neutral and low on emission of pollutants. It is the hope that the model can be sold commercially within one year. When entering the market it will have a long list of positive effects on the climate and help people in Europe and the world by facilitating access to clean water, be environmentally friendly, low cost and creating new jobs across sectors. The dome can be adapted to the customers’ needs, economy and local conditions and is powered 100% by solar, replacing fossil fuels, also in existing plants. By being low cost due to solar energy, it allows poorer communities to access the technology and hire local workers to build and maintain the plants thus creating jobs.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering ecosystem-based management ecological restoration
- engineering and technology civil engineering
- engineering and technology chemical engineering separation technologies desalination
- engineering and technology chemical engineering separation technologies distillation
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy concentrated solar power
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
W1W 5AB London
United Kingdom
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.