| In many poor, third world countries, even having | | | | Their technique is more energy and economically |
| the resources to obtain electricity presents a | | | | efficient. |
| problem. Due to the lack of logistics, as well as | | | | Their method, unlike the others, runs directly on |
| the finances even if all of the logistics were in | | | | wind power. The middle step of storing the |
| place, alternate methods are necessary in orderto | | | | electricity has been completely eradicated from |
| have the basics that those in more financially | | | | the equation. By storing water (which is more |
| fortunate areas of the world have. | | | | cost-effective than the electricity storage), calm |
| A recent development at Delft University of | | | | periods, when there is no wind, are not as dire of |
| Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands is a | | | | an issue. |
| basic windmill that operates a pump, in turn utilizing | | | | The windmills that are in use for this process are |
| reverse osmosis to output fresh water from the | | | | slow-moving and strong. The estimations that |
| salty seawater that is put in. Reverse osmosis is | | | | have been done up to this point on the windmills |
| a process used to purify concentrated solutions | | | | in question gauge them to be able to provide |
| (often water with high levels of dissolved salts) in | | | | drinking water for a small village of around five |
| which pressure is applied to the more | | | | hundred people. This is not per week, or per |
| concentrated (or contaminated) solution on one | | | | month. These estimates are on a per day basis |
| side of a semipermeable membrane. The result is | | | | through the reverse osmosis process of one |
| the movement of solvent, but not solutes, from | | | | windmill. University of Delft is aware that an |
| the more concentrated side to the more dilute | | | | emergency supply needs to be in place to |
| side, thus separating clean solvent from the | | | | consume during the inevitable calm periods when |
| concentrated solution. | | | | the windmill is not able to use the wind power to |
| So, basically, in laymens terms, reverse osmosis | | | | operate the reverse osmosis procedure. |
| purifies the salt filled sea water so that it is able | | | | The first test run for this new development is set |
| to be used for drinking water. This development | | | | for the beginning of March, in which the windmill |
| by Delft University is a critical advancement for | | | | that has been operating near Delft will be |
| small villages located in arid areas near the coast. | | | | dismantled and relocated to Curacao. The |
| Using windmills for desalination is nothing new. | | | | prospects of this succeeding will be monumental |
| These contraptions have previously been utilized | | | | for villagers who lack fresh irrigation and who |
| and have been marketed already. The windmills | | | | have to employ manual techniques to obtain any |
| on the market currently use wind to produce | | | | semblance of drinkable water. The economical |
| electricity, and then store that electricity in order | | | | aspect, along with the quicker, machine-operated |
| to begin the process of reverse osmosis. Due to | | | | abilities villagers will now have to acquire such a |
| the expensive nature of this, as well as the fact | | | | basic need, will surely have colossal effects on |
| that energy depletes during the procedure, TU | | | | poorer, third world countries. |
| Delft contrived a method that is a bit different. | | | | |