South Korea: the Yeosu Solar Desalination Complex. It is the world’s first commercial-scale desalination plant running exclusively on its own solar array. It does not use the grid.

 

Desalination has always had one fatal flaw. It requires an astronomical amount of power. South Korea just bypassed the problem entirely.

They just activated the Yeosu Solar Desalination Complex. It is the world’s first commercial-scale desalination plant running exclusively on its own solar array. It does not use the grid. It does not burn gas.

A 450-hectare solar farm generates 120 megawatts to push Yellow Sea water through reverse osmosis membranes. It produces enough daily drinking water for two million people. At night, massive battery banks take over, keeping the plant running for 14 hours until sunrise.

The result is fresh water at $0.18 per cubic meter. That is 65 percent cheaper than the gas-powered plants it replaces. Zero fuel costs. Zero carbon. A literal blueprint for water-stressed coastal regions globally

Evolved Chimp