Let us take Africa as example, where agriculture has a massive social and economic footprint. In fact, more than 60% of the sub-Saharan population are smallholder farmers.
However, water scarcity in the region has a disastrous effect on agricultural performance; this, in turn, drives mass migration to cities or abroad.
A small Exowave plant could deliver enough clean water to run a mid-sized farm. A design study of a small Exowave plant for an arid, coastal location in Namibia provides the following project investment calculation*:
- >20% IRR
- EUR 120.000 CAPEX
- 17.000 m³/y fresh water produced, suitable for:
- ~ 600 cattle or 7500 sheep, or
- ~ 55 tons/y of for example maize / sugar beets.
Exowave is an excellent application for farmers in arid, coastal regions:
- Extremely cost efficient
- Fully self-sufficient system
- No noise or pollutant emissions
- Very low maintenance requirement
- Reduces poverty, increases employment and health
(*) Actual calculations contingent on detailed design and project specifics