Commercialization of Solar Desalination Technology

Goal: Support the commercialization of a low-cost, solar-powered desalination technology designed to convert seawater and brackish water into potable water.

Desalination technologies are widely used around the world, but high capital and operating costs—particularly the energy required for reverse osmosis—have historically constrained broader adoption. Technologies that reduce these costs could expand access to fresh water, particularly in water-scarce regions.

After retiring as a theoretical physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Melvin Prueitt turned his attention to renewable-energy and water technologies. Solar Energy Ltd., a Los Alamos-based renewable-energy technology company with which he was associated, was developing H2ONOW, a system designed to use solar energy to power commercially available reverse-osmosis technology for producing fresh water from seawater or brackish water. The developers projected that the technology could substantially reduce the cost of conventional desalination.

TerrAqua's role: Evaluate H2ONOW's commercialization strategy, potential markets, and opportunities for bringing the technology into practical use.

Client: Solar Energy Ltd.