Use solar desalination to produce clean water

Ki’ama Bahamas is the world’s first solar-powered, shared-ownership Yacht and Residence Club, located in The Bahamas. As for any island in the Bahamas, access to clean water is a significant challenge. Desalination is the most used solution, accounting for 90% of the water supply in the Bahamas. However, desalination is energy-intensive and electricity is expensive on the Bahamas. Elemental Water Makers’ sustainable desalination technology offers a solution by utilizing abundant solar energy and seawater, requiring 70% less energy for the desalination and avoiding the use of chemicals. Ki’ama has used this sustainable desalination solution since they opened their facilities in 2024.

The technology has been implemented in over 30 other countries across Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East, and the Pacific.

• The initiative involves setting up solar desalination plants that harness solar energy to power the desalination process. This eliminates the need for non-renewable energy sources and reduces dependency on freshwater.

• The process uses solar panels to capture sunlight, which is then converted into energy to drive the desalination process, turning seawater into clean, potable water. The desalination solution uses 70% less electricity by energy recovery technology. No chemicals are required in the process.

Sustainability Impact

Climate Impact

Nature Impact

Reduces strain on freshwater ecosystems by using seawater.

Social Impact

Provides communities with access to clean water, improving health and quality of life.

Business Impact

Benefits

• The initiative reduces operational costs by eliminating the need for non-renewable energy sources and freshwater procurement. Due to the use of solar energy, the lack of chemicals and the 70% lower energy requirement by energy recovery, the operational costs are 90% lower compared to conventional desalination

• The cost of water are reduced by 70% compared to conventional desalination, due to its energy efficiency and the lack of chemicals

• It also enhances the brand reputation as a sustainable and innovative company

Costs

• CAPEX: Initial investment in solar panels and desalination technology is required but lower than many standard desalination solutions

• OPEX: Operational costs are low due to the use of free solar energy

• The total cost of ownership is much lower than standard desalination solutions. Water production rates are possible between 1-2 USD per 1000 liters, which includes the investment (CAPEX) and operational expenses (OPEX) for 15 years

Abatement costs

Not quantified, but savings on energy and water procurement are significant.

Co-benefits

Promotes technological innovation and sustainability awareness.

Potential side-effects

Potential land use conflicts for solar panel installation, addressed by selecting non-arable land.

Typical business profile

Relevant to:

• Businesses operating in coastal regions or islands with high solar irradiance and water scarcity issues

• Coastal or island resorts with scarcity of freshwater

Approach

The technology has been deployed in over 30 countries so far, it is proven and ready to be implemented by coastal resorts, businesses, villa's and communities.

Step-by-step approach:

1. During a project intake with the solution provider, the water needs, location, quality and other requirements are discussed, leading to a custom project design and proposal.

2. Once the proposal was approved, the solution provider produced the equipment and sent it to the Bahamas for installation. Meanwhile Ki'ama Bahamas prepared the site for the arrival of the container.

3. Once cleared through customs and after having arrived on-site, a commissioning engineer set up the solar desalination plants that harness solar energy to power the desalination process and provided a training to operate and maintain the solution.

4. The solar panels capture sunlight, which is then converted into energy to drive the desalination process, turning seawater into clean, potable water. The desalination solution uses 70% less electricity by energy recovery technology. No chemicals are required in the process. These desalination plants can be designed to produce any capacity between 5.000 and 100.000 liters/day.

Stakeholders involved

• Project Leads from Elemental Water Makers and Ki'ama Bahamas: Oversee the implementation and operation of solar desalination plants

• Company functions: Coordinate between Ki'ama Bahamas’s procurement, operations, and sustainability teams and the Elemental Water Makers team

• Main providers (Elemental Water Makers): Supply solar panels and desalination technology

• Other: Local communities and governments in the Bahamas were engaged for support and collaboration

Key parameters to consider

• Solar irradiance

• Proximity to seawater

• Water needs of end-user

• Project implementation time, which includes around 6 months included production, shipping and installation + training on-site

Implementation and operations tips

Phased expansion of the water production is possible.