Faced with a water crisis that is getting worse every year, Mayotte is exploring a bold track to guarantee sustainable access to drinking water. Faced with insufficient production in the face of growing demand, the territory must deal with drought-sensitive surface resources and limited groundwater. In this context, the desalination of seawater is a way forward.
But producing fresh water from salt water requires large amounts of energy. This is where a promising innovation comes in: the thermal energy of the seas, also called « blue energy », which could well revolutionize drinking water production in Mayotte.
Since 2020, the University of Mayotte has been actively involved in research on this technology. The principle is simple and ingenious: exploit the temperature difference between hot water on the surface and cold water in depth to produce electricity. Thanks to its favorable ocean conditions, Mayotte offers an ideal experimental ground for this clean and renewable energy.
A barge project under study aims to combine these two advances: a desalination system powered by the thermal energy of the seas. Located several kilometers from the lagoon, this innovative barge could produce drinking water while reducing the environmental impact and energy dependence of the territory.
To present this initiative and discuss it with the public, the Rectorate of Mayotte and the University of Mayotte are organizing a conference hosted by Damien Devault, HDR lecturer at the University of Mayotte and the University of Bordeaux. This meeting will provide a better understanding of how science and innovation can, together, offer Mayotte concrete solutions to prepare for a sustainable future.
source : mayottehebdo
