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Solar-powered desalination system requires no extra batteries

(news.mit.edu)
130 points bentocorp | 8 comments | 17 Nov 24 22:06 UTC | HN request time: 3.768s | source | bottom
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bastloing ◴[18 Nov 24 13:06 UTC] No.42171982[source]▶
That's great news! Now if they can solve the same problem with sea water, California, Arizona and Nevada can reduce their reliance on the Colorado river and grow more crops. It is only a matter of time before it's solved. Great work, MIT!
replies(3): >>42172316 #>>42172543 #>>42172816 #
1. fred_is_fred ◴[18 Nov 24 14:28 UTC] No.42172543[source]▶
Even if you could do this you'd have to pump the water back uphill to NV and AZ.
replies(4): >>42172836 #>>42173738 #>>42175015 #>>42175064 #
2. dylan604 ◴[18 Nov 24 14:55 UTC] No.42172836[source]▶
Just install some additional solar powered pumps along the way
replies(1): >>42173952 #
3. aidenn0 ◴[18 Nov 24 16:09 UTC] No.42173738[source]▶
Could you save on pumping energy by sending the water to underground aquifers rather than the surface?
4. fred_is_fred ◴[18 Nov 24 16:26 UTC] No.42173952[source]▶
The amount of energy needed to pump enough water for ag uphill is insane. Well beyond "just" throwing some solar panels out there. If it was that easy we'd pump Mississippi water into west Texas (which there was a plan to do in the 60s with nuke plants, but I cannot find the name right now).
replies(1): >>42174057 #
5. dylan604 ◴[18 Nov 24 16:35 UTC] No.42174057{3}[source]▶
i left off the /s as to me anytime someone starts a comment off with "just ____" is usually a farcical idea. like just remove the salt from water and boom, done.
replies(1): >>42177505 #
6. bastloing ◴[18 Nov 24 18:00 UTC] No.42175015[source]▶
Ok, so it's two problems to solve. Get on it MIT!
7. itscrush ◴[18 Nov 24 18:05 UTC] No.42175064[source]▶
No, start with modifying the Colorado River Compact and other underlying agreements to allow more upstream retention than is currently allotted.
8. fred_is_fred ◴[18 Nov 24 21:52 UTC] No.42177505{4}[source]▶
Hah! It can be a very HN comment to "just" something especially around physical engineering.