Prof Dr Ing Andrea Iris Schäfer
Decentralized renewable energy powered membrane filtration systems: implementation potential and challenges in Africa
Membrane processes such as nanofiltration and reverse osmosis directly coupled with renewable energy such as photovoltaics present enormous opportunities in Africa. This enables the utilization of brackish water, naturally or anthropogenically contaminated water to be utilized to enhance drinking water – and provide water that is fit for purpose for irrigation, animal feeding and washing. Mirobiological contamination through typically unintended wastewater reuse or open defecation in rutal area is retained using a dual barrier concept. Advanced technology to achieve high quality drinking water is feasible, while high infrastructure implementation and maintenance costs for conventional centralized system scan be saved. High water quality, high system resilience, and environmental sustainability speak for the technology. Technical sustainability remains a challenge with operation & maintenance through qualified personnel, water distribution and monitoring and local business plans remain resolvable challenges. The talk will give an overview of experience based on research in Tanzania and invite collaboration for both research and implementation.
Boussouga, Y.-A. ; Richards, B.S. ; Schäfer, A.I. ; (2020) Renewable energy powered membrane technology: System resilience under solar irradiance fluctuations during the treatment of fluoride-rich natural waters by different nanofiltration/reverse osmosis membranes, Journal of Membrane Science, 617, 1 January 2021, 118452. doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118452
Schäfer, A.I. ; Shen, J. ; Richards, B.S. (2018) Renewable energy powered membrane technology: Removal of natural organic matter and fluoride in Tanzanian communities, npj Nature Clean Water, 24, 1-10. Doi.org/10.1038/s41545-018-0026-6
Schäfer, A.I. ; Hughes, G. ; Richards, B.S. (2014) Renewable Energy Powered Membrane Technology: A Leapfrog Approach to Rural Water Supply Technologies in Developing Countries? Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 40, 542–556. doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.07.164