The Middle East faces dire water scarcity and in some places energy comes at a premium too, but we have yet to see simple solutions that address both issues at once – until now. Check out the Photoflow by NOS below.
Eight triangular photovoltaic panels are arranged at a three degree angle in the shape of an octagon.
Covered with a special antireflective film that promotes maximum thermal absorption and reduces the amount of dust collected, the panels also funnel water into the unit’s holding base.
Equipped with a filter and a special lining that protects against the accumulation of harmful bacteria or fungi, the base can hold up to 400 liters of purified drinking water.
Easily placed on rooftops or balconies, the Photoflow can generate energy and capture rainwater in one elegant unit.
Additionally, great care has been taken to ensure that the unit is very easy to clean and maintain, which is also crucial for people who lack the funds for even the most basic of life’s necessities.
NOS, which was founded by Augustin Saiz Otegui, is currently in the process of seeking funding so that they can scale up their design and make it commercially available.
While there is no price tag yet, it seems like the unit would be too pricey for most people living developing countries, but there is the potential for aid organizations or other social enterprises to purchase them in bulk and distribute them in the neediest communities.
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
This does not have a big enough collecting area to be very good for either water or electricity collection. As it is currently, it is not a practical solution – anyone relying on one of these for their water would die of thirst, unless they live in a rainy and very tropical climate. And they may be able to power some LED lights, and charge a phone, but probably not much more.
Maybe it could do both? Absorb water from the atmosphere and filter rainwater?
I was mulling this concept over myself recently, but as a source of shade and irrigation for coastal desert farms and ranches. Many overgrazed arid lands have lost their tree cover which promotes soil evaporation and this could become a source of power for remote areas while allowing native understory plants an opportunity to regenerate. Many food crops will also produce longer if kept shaded during the hotter parts of the year.
This very practical solution to dual problems is most encouraging. Thank you so much for making this information available.
I’d like to see this taken a step further for people in humid environments in particular. Engineer it to take water from the atmosphere (rather than relying on rainwater) that is already cleaner than stream water. It would be a great asset for campers especially if we could fold it to fit into a pack.