GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Water Crisis Fuels Energy Innovation

Rebecca Kutzer-Rice | Date: 04-26-11 | Comments

With rising water scarcity and growing concerns about contamination, many start-up companies are focused on solving the water crisis�often with an energy-reducing slant.

We�re all familiar with the common ways of reducing carbon footprints: drive cars less often, recycle bottles and cans, and turn off the lights. As it turns out, turning off the water faucet might be even more important than turning off the lights.

Wastewater systems currently consume three percent of America�s electricity, and the EPA estimates that retrofitting just one percent of homes with water-saving technologies could prevent adding 80,000 tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

Focusing attention on this approach is Imagine H20, a nonprofit organization founded in 2007, dedicated to solving the world�s water problems�from water scarcity to water-borne diseases. Since 2009, the company has funded an annual competition for start-ups whose missions align with solving the water crisis on four major levels: water sourcing, distributing, treatment and disposal.

According to Imagine H20, sourcing water is one of the most energy-expensive steps in the process, as surface waters must be diverted and ground waters pumped. Alternative methods of water sourcing, such as desalinating saltwater and purifying wastewater, have even higher energy costs. Many of the finalists of the annual competition focus on innovating the water sourcing process.

FogBusters, for example, is a start-up that treats wastewater from petroleum, biofuel, and food processing. Their processing system also captures the fuel, oil, and grease (�FOG�) from the water to make biodiesel. FogBusters was a runner-up in this year�s Imagine H20 contest.

Distributing water is also a major source of energy loss. According to the National Resources Defense Council and the Pacific Institute, transporting water from the San Francisco Bay Delta to Southern California consumes up to three percent of California�s total electricity usage. Pump efficiencies, leak detection, pressure management and automation are all possible ways of saving energy during water distribution.

NLine Energy, a finalist in the contest, converts energy wasted in the water distribution process into renewable energy. This energy can then be used for on-site fuel or sold back to power companies.

As water quality around the world declines, more effective and less expensive treatment options are becoming necessary. Puralytics, another finalist, uses energy-efficient means of purifying water. The company uses a combination of high-tech photochemical treatment options, including high-power LEDs and photocatalyst coating, to kill microorganisms and make water safe for use.

Disposal, the final step in water processing, also consumes a large amount of energy. According to Imagine H20, innovations in pumping, aeration, and solids handling could cut down on energy waste during this step. BlackGold Biofuels, a runner-up in the contest, recovers energy from wastewater streams in a process that both saves renewable energy and reduces pollution.

Hydrovolts, the winner of this year�s contest, produces floating turbines that create energy from water canals.

Winners received cash prizes, as well as professional services, such as legal and finance consultation. Details about the 2011 competition will be announced soon.