Addressing Water Scarcity with Energy-Efficient SWRO
According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), Chile is the most water-stressed country in the world. The Atacama Desert is one such water-scarce region in northern Chile that needed a reliable and efficient potable water source for its population. The Atacama Desalination Plant arose around this need, the largest desalination plant for human consumption in Chile and the first of its kind financed entirely by the state through the company ECONSSA Chile S.A. A crucial project for the region, the Atacama Desalination Plant ensures drinking water supply in an area that lacks natural aquifers for self-sufficiency. The plant was commissioned in 2021, having a starting capacity of 38,880 cubic m3/day to guarantee drinking water for the Atacama region, with plans to expand and run primarily on renewables. Lowering the specific energy consumption (SEC) by a significant margin was a critical challenge for the plant to reduce the number of solar panels and wind turbines needed, as well as to address the challenge of storing energy during unfavorable conditions, such as nighttime.
