Tailored for Australia
It should not be forgotten that most plants take up the most valuable space imaginable, namely the coastal strip, which is otherwise used by fishermen, sportsmen and tourists. In this context, it should be noted that most of the desalination plants installed do not meet the environmental requirements of modern technology.
What’s more, they leave behind polluted water that no one wants to see. They also require a great deal of maintenance, which in turn leads to dependency on the companies or countries involved. (The Chinese Silk Road is just one example of many). That’s why you should do the necessary installations yourself.
As these designs have already been recognised by Europe’s leading applied research organisation, they have invited me to present the idea at a symposium to be held early in the new year. My initial focus was on the Australian continent when I decided to find a way to desalinate seawater on a large scale and distribute it over a large area. There are several reasons for this: The negative effects of climate change were first felt and recognised here, as they were in the 1970s when the hole in the ozone layer was at its greatest. This is where I see the greatest opportunities for positive change with the greatest global impact.
As a side effect, because this continent is not yet as covered in concrete as most others, there is an opportunity to avoid much of the mistakes of other industrialised nations by creating a new infrastructure that is largely above ground, on stilts. This will prevent the precious soil from being sealed so that it can no longer breathe and water from seeping into the groundwater. In addition, fauna and flora are not restricted in their freedom of movement. The basis is the water management infrastructure, which I would like to establish wherever possible as „aqueducts of modernity“. It can produce as much drinking water as is needed, as well as all the necessary derivatives, from H₂O to e-fuels.
The system even allows two types of salt desalination: pressure desalination at high temperatures or vacuum desalination at low temperatures. Further research is needed to determine which process is more suitable for which purpose. The vapour of distillation may be perfect for producing H₂O, but the low temperature of vacuum desalination is better for the survival of microorganisms and therefore best suited to restore and support nature’s self-regulating abilities.
Using the tides of the oceans to fill the tanks makes it possible to dispense with mechanical pumps thanks to the gravity of the water. Both do not require the use of chemicals and therefore provide ecological, marketable salt products for cooking and industry or for energy storage, useful in the context of the energy transition. It is important to have clean seawater, which can only be found away from human settlements, so the focus is not on a purification process. (Where can you find such places if not in Australia).
Since every metre of the transport route can be used to generate energy, the distance is an advantage, as all processes are powered by 100% green solar energy. The Fraunhofer Institute, the largest application-oriented research institution in Europe, especially in the field of solar technology, which invited me to present my idea at a conference on biodiversity, could be the right institution to do the necessary work, which is beyond my own capabilities. Since one of the four major German smart grid companies is also interested in this technology, a collaboration with this company could be beneficial.
Last but not least, it will be more than interesting to see which weapons are better: Those of peace, which allow new trees to grow, or those of war, which only allow destruction. The second is in the tradition of misinterpreting the possibilities, because too many people believe they can win a war against nature, which is the giver of life to us all. How wonderful the simple can be. The system I have developed allows, indeed demands, a new architecture of everything connected to it. Newly developed landscapes, often without a significant water supply for decades or even longer, need to be treated differently than we are used to. In harmony with nature and its resources, and using them sparingly.
Until a few years ago, how many of us knew that trees can communicate with each other over long distances to protect themselves from danger? For example, by jointly producing substances that protect against certain pests. The resulting structures provide the necessary strength through filigree structures that adapt elegantly to their surroundings and also provide more space for other living creatures. 3D printing can already make a significant contribution to meeting these needs. As the technology is explored worldwide, new possibilities are rapidly emerging, such as the use of clay as a building material.
This could be particularly important for the development of large areas of Australia. It is possible to eliminate the need to seal surfaces, allowing the necessary exchange of water, air and bio-organisms that is essential for a healthy environment. Neglecting these conditions contributes to climate problems. In addition to carbon dioxide pollution.