manhat's floating desalination system to combat water scarcity in coastal communities

manhat unveils floating solar-powered water desalinator

Focusing on natural water distillation solutions, Abu Dhabi-based startup Manhat has come up with an innovative floating system that can generate fresh water from the ocean without electricity. The newly unveiled device operates on solar energy to capture the water evaporated on the surface of the ocean, condense it and collect it in the form of fresh water. The ingenious system, which resembles a floating greenhouse, has the potential to transform how food and clean water are generated in the Arab Peninsula and other coastal regions across the world.

Manhat’s innovative system operates on solar power and resembles a floating greenhouse

all images courtesy of Manhat

an economically viable solution to harvesting freshwater

Manhat’s technology can harvest freshwater by taking water directly from the sea. The concept is based on the evaporation of water by solar radiation hitting the water surface. The sun heats the floating structure, and the water evaporates underneath, separating it from the salt crystals that return to the sea. Salt does not accumulate in the unit, and the angle of the collection cylinder prevents water droplets from evaporating back into the sea. When temperatures cool, the water distills and flows into a reservoir as fresh water.

Although this solar-powered desalination process is already in use in many places around the world, the Abu Dhabi-based company wants to implement this solution on a larger scale. The startup plans to use its technology in floating farms, which would use its desalination equipment to provide fresh water for crop irrigation without the need for water transportation and associated emissions. Also, unlike existing systems, the process will not produce brine, a condensate of salt and chemicals, which is harmful to marine flora and fauna. Finally, according to the company, the invention is less expensive than existing systems because it does not require heating or water compression.