The Solar Energy Technologies Office in the U.S. Department of Energy expects to make $15 million available for seven to 10 projects, which explore early-stage technologies for desalination through solar thermal energy, the U.S. Department of Energy announced late Thursday.
The new public-private funding of nearly $20 million aims to develop solar desalination technologies to help turn otherwise unusable waters into freshwater.
'Desalination treats seawater, brackish water, and contaminated water for use in municipal and industrial water supplies, or to reclaim contaminated water,' the department explained.
Solar Energy Technologies Office Director Charlie Gay said that by integrating solar technology with desalination, the cost dramatically could be lowered. He also said that solar desalination can not only be used in creating freshwater from saltwater, but also from clean wastewater in industrial processes.
The projects will be awarded as cooperative agreements, and will require between 20 to 50 percent cost share, which ensures that federal research dollars are responsibly spent.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
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