A keen interest in social issues and strong business acumen has enabled local youth company Logan Electricals to set themselves apart from competitors with an innovative solution that produces water from air and sunlight.
Despite government interventions and investments Botswana continues to experience water supply challenges in a sporadic manner across the country, Logan Electrical a 100 percent citizen owned solutions company, has directed its interests towards targeting renewable kind of energy solutions such as electricals, solar batteries, construction maintenance and renewable water to name a few.
Logan Electrical Chief executive officer Otsile Seretse said “Logan started off in 2018, have been going strong ever since. We have a new high end product called a zero mass water hydro panel shaped like a solar panel. What this hydro panel is producing in essence is perfect clean drinking water and does it all from sunlight and air. So the water is completely off grid, it’s renewable and one can make water every day.”
Air-to-water technology uses the process of converting water vapour in the air (humidity) to water. These contraptions replicates the natural process of condensation by simulating the dew point, which allows it to make water continuously, even in low humidity conditions.
Seretse explained the process behind water creation from sunlight and air only, which involves fans inside the mass water hydro panel that blow air inside it. The machine raises the temperature of the collected air and then drops it, the same way it happens with cloud formation in the sky. The Hydro panel then has a special material that attracts the H20 molelcule and air is removed through an exit port. Pure water is collected into the reservoir tank, while in it`s pure state this water is not good for the body. A mineral pack inside the hydro panel mineralises the water and raises the pH level around 8 and gives the water the right amount of minerals our bodies need and great taste as well.
The hydro panel has a carrying capacity of about 30 litres and once it reaches maximum capacity it will stop and has a pressure release valve to reduce some of the water.
Furthermore Seretse shared that “The hydro panel is not looking to replace household taps, it complements them. What it actually does is offer perfected water for anyone anywhere. So it is not only about households it works everywhere and for everyone, for example whether one is in the city or cattle post, mines, camp sites. We can’t specifically say it’s just for households.”
“Anybody can purchase it be it corporations, families, farmers and Government as this is just a solution for clean drinking water. We really want to help people who do not have access to clean drinking water, places that are off grid and also those who buy water to enable them to save water. Our process does not waste water as compared to reverse osmosis which wastes about 80 percent of water. This project is addressing humans specifically and seeking to address the challenges people face first,” Seretse said.
Water production for the device itself differs with environment, as areas with high humidity it works faster to create water and where the humidity is medium or below it works a bit slow to fill up its reservoir. Seretse added “here in Botswana we are producing 5 litres a day it only works when it is sunny and night time it still works as it has lithium battery packs inside. There is an ozonation system that ensures that no algae is formed and the quality of the water is always pure and ready for drinking.”
Seretse shared his inspiration for the project and said “I have always been quite drawn to renewable because I felt that it was a solution to challenges that I was exposed to. Back in flight school the first type of renewable energy that caught my eye was wind farms whereby wind turbines are used to generate electricity all that really fascinated me and today we are making water from air.”
On the issue of certification Seretse revealed they started with taking water samples to the Botswana Bureau of Standards so that they can give assurance to themselves and public that it is clean water. He said “we are ninety five percent done with our tests which we have passed with flying colours and we are awaiting the other five percent sometime this week.”
Another convenience the solar panel shaped water maker has is that it will enable owners to connect with it via their mobile courtesy of an app. The hydro panel has its own mobile connectivity application that continuously notifies the owner, in real time about the water level inside the tank, quality, how much water the hydro panel has been making per day and how much water is in the reservoir at all times.
“I would like advised youth in Botswana to focus and work very hard as there is enough room at top for everybody and to dream big.” Seretse concluded.