Solar-powered water distillation produces no waste

Unlike other systems, the new solution does not produce brine – a salty byproduct that can be harmful to the eco-system

Spotted: United Arab Emirates startup Manhat has developed water distillation plants that produce no waste because of their open top design. Traditionally, desalination produces substantial amounts of salty brine that must either be treated or used in a way that avoids creating pollution. Manhat’s design, on the other hand, uses an open-topped pyramid shape with collection barrels for gathering the condensed water from the sides of the container.

Water naturally evaporates from the world’s oceans, and Manhat’s design takes advantage of that process by coupling it with another free resource – sunlight. Requiring no electricity or power of any kind, the distillation plants are designed for ease of use, portability and affordability. Island and coastal countries are ideally situated to benefit from the technology.

Manhat is also developing floating farm solutions that will benefit coastal cities where the looming threat of rising sea levels due to climate change is especially high.

The company is experimenting with three metre by three metre and one-and-a-half metre square versions and says that it plans to standardise the final product for ease of production and scalability. The company holds several patents for the design with the Gulf Cooperation Council and plans an initial expansion into Singapore.

Clean water is inaccessible for millions of citizens, which is why innovators seek a variety of solutions to the problem. Springwise has spotted an atmospheric water generator for use in vehicles, and a portable design that also uses solar power to cleanse contaminated water.