Water scarcity is becoming a widespread concern and is often framed as a consequence of climate change. Anxieties have been sparked by rhetoric and terms such as ‘water wars’ and news headlines about lakes drying up. However, new innovations such as water desalination and other forms of purification are becoming more and more affordable and popular. These technologies will play an increasingly large role in our food and water security in future years as rainfall becomes harder to predict and droughts continue to threaten water supply.

This proprietary seawater desalination process known as Wave2O couples Resolute Marines wave energy converters with an onshore desalination plant to produce safe drinking water without carbon emissions. This is done through reverse-osmosis.

INPUTS (seawater, waves) —> OUTPUTS (drinkable water + clean energy for grid)

Their Oscillating wave energy converter generates hydraulic power, harnessing the energy in wave surges. The waves push lever like a device bolted to the sea floor, moving it forward and backward. The torque from this movement is converted into electricity by a generator, which powers the desalination plant. Excess energy is directed to the local power grid.

Wave20 is designed for simple maintenance and operation through the use of innovative technologies that reduce the need for skilled labour. Coupled with it’s small-scale size and lack of reliance on expensive grid energy, this is a powerful solution for small and or rural communities that are facing challenges with water supply.

Company Mission:

Resolute Marine aims to displace diesel-electric desalination systems and increase access to safe water for coastal and small island populations.

Waste Management - Brine

Brine is the waste product of desalination: it is highly saline water. When placed back into the ocean by large desalination plants it increases the salt content of the ocean and raises its temperature. It often also contains harmful chemicals used in the desalination process which threatens biodiversity.

Wave20 provides small-scale desalination which means the amount of waste is low, and the salinity of the brine is diluted due to a low permeate recovery ratio (ocean water input: freshwater output). Brine from reverse osmosis can be up to 4x less polluting than from traditional desalination methods.

Resolute Marine issued a statement regarding the safety of their waste disposal: “According to Ceberio, the salinity of the discharged water would be no more than 10% greater than ambient ocean water, making it environmentally safe.”. Wave20 pumps waste brine back into the ocean.

Although this is much safer than brine from large-scale desalination plants, we do not condone this practice. Brine from these processes should be kept on land to reduce environmental impact. Brine has applications in aquaculture, dietary supplements, and agriculture. Upcycling brine for use in other sectors is how we can reduce the potentially negative environmental impacts of desalination plants.

Benefits:

• Excess clean energy → grid

• Requires little maintenance / operating labour

• Cheap cost

• CO2 emissions are cut by 5.5K tonnes per year when the diesel plant is replaced by this solution. This is equivalent to taking 1,050 cars off the road.

• Local jobs made for suppliers of material / skilled labour to set up the plant

• Cheaper water production than the diesel alternative. Cost cut by over half.

  
  

Written by Max Kennan

Reference list:

Images and information sourced from company website - https://www.resolutemarine.com/