Water: the foundation of life, covers nearly 70% of the world’s surface, and yet still inaccessible to millions. Water shortages are not simply short bouts of rainless years as most people of California complain of, but are global problems as many people simply do not have access to clean, drinkable water. Whether in America, the Middle East, or Africa, water is a necessary natural resource that cannot be done without. However, with an ever-increasing world population, water demands continue to climb while water reserves dwindle. The simple answer to many water problems can be solved with desalination plants. Desalination, or the process of converting saline (salt) water into fresh water, is a great choice for countries with or without access
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With such a push for cleaner energy, the creation of solar-powered desalination plants should be at the foreground of focus. The idea of solar powered desalination plants is already under development. One company, WaterFX, has already created a system that, “uses solar thermal energy to avoid the use of fossil fuel-powered electricity” (Phillips). The creation of such solar powered desalination plants allows for the reduction of cost, the benefit of not contributing to climate change, and the ability to harness otherwise unusable water. These advantages not only mean a reduction in air pollution, as well as clean water, but, also, the protection of wildlife habitats because of the reduction of the demand of fresh water from rivers and other natural sources (Phillips). Another advantage to the solar desalination plant to that of its fossil fuel counterpart is that the process can be done at a much cheaper cost. According to an article created by the university MIT, desalinated water can cost anywhere “between $1,000 and $2,500 per acre-foot [about 325,000 gallons]” while developers of the solar powered system claim that solar desalination will “produce clean water at roughly one-fourth the cost of conventional desalination” (Talbot, Phillips). While $2,000 may not seem like much for 325,000 gallons, desalination plants …show more content…
Nuclear power plants may be the best answer to solve water shortages, as well as reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses directly caused by fossil fuel-burning desalination facilities. The use of a nuclear power plant, coupled with a desalination facility is not revolutionary technology. In fact, a report as of 2007 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has determined that, “over 175 reactor-years of operating experience on nuclear desalination have been accumulated worldwide” (5 Nisan). With so many years of experience, there is no doubt about the safety and sensibility of nuclear desalination. However, these years of experience have mainly been accumulated in Kazakhstan, India, and Japan (Nuclear). Even though nuclear desalination has yet to reach global applications, it should be globally considered for its cost effectiveness, and ability to meet two demands at once, with the addition of reducing greenhouse gasses. First, addressing the issue of cost effectiveness, a study by the IAEA determined, “all nuclear options are economically attractive as compared with gas… desalination systems, as long as gas prices remain higher than $21 per barrel” (61 Seneviratne). Though gas prices have seen a dramatic drop over the last year, price per barrel remains closer to $40 a barrel, and oil
With such a push for cleaner energy, the creation of solar-powered desalination plants should be at the foreground of focus. The idea of solar powered desalination plants is already under development. One company, WaterFX, has already created a system that, “uses solar thermal energy to avoid the use of fossil fuel-powered electricity” (Phillips). The creation of such solar powered desalination plants allows for the reduction of cost, the benefit of not contributing to climate change, and the ability to harness otherwise unusable water. These advantages not only mean a reduction in air pollution, as well as clean water, but, also, the protection of wildlife habitats because of the reduction of the demand of fresh water from rivers and other natural sources (Phillips). Another advantage to the solar desalination plant to that of its fossil fuel counterpart is that the process can be done at a much cheaper cost. According to an article created by the university MIT, desalinated water can cost anywhere “between $1,000 and $2,500 per acre-foot [about 325,000 gallons]” while developers of the solar powered system claim that solar desalination will “produce clean water at roughly one-fourth the cost of conventional desalination” (Talbot, Phillips). While $2,000 may not seem like much for 325,000 gallons, desalination plants …show more content…
Nuclear power plants may be the best answer to solve water shortages, as well as reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses directly caused by fossil fuel-burning desalination facilities. The use of a nuclear power plant, coupled with a desalination facility is not revolutionary technology. In fact, a report as of 2007 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has determined that, “over 175 reactor-years of operating experience on nuclear desalination have been accumulated worldwide” (5 Nisan). With so many years of experience, there is no doubt about the safety and sensibility of nuclear desalination. However, these years of experience have mainly been accumulated in Kazakhstan, India, and Japan (Nuclear). Even though nuclear desalination has yet to reach global applications, it should be globally considered for its cost effectiveness, and ability to meet two demands at once, with the addition of reducing greenhouse gasses. First, addressing the issue of cost effectiveness, a study by the IAEA determined, “all nuclear options are economically attractive as compared with gas… desalination systems, as long as gas prices remain higher than $21 per barrel” (61 Seneviratne). Though gas prices have seen a dramatic drop over the last year, price per barrel remains closer to $40 a barrel, and oil