CES Goes Green | Energy Central – GWC Mag

In addition to conducting its annual event in a more environmentally friendly way, as you can imagine green products are cropping up more frequently at the Consumer Electronics Show. Bloomberg published a summary highlighting advances in home battery technology, a new e-bike from Segway, and an electric backyard grill.

Outside of the BBQ, I didn’t find any of that particularly interesting, so I decided to peruse the innovation award winners. In the spirit of handing out participation trophies, winners were plentiful. Nothing like winning an “award” to boost one’s PR efforts.

There were 37 “winners” in the sustainability, eco-design, smart energy category and another 36 related to smart home technology. Today’s post will focus on the sustainability category.

Highlights include a drone that removes algae from bodies of water, glass that generates electricity from sunlight, a moss-based humidifier, mini desalination system, and a min-water recycling system.

Today’s feature product (sorry no trophy provided) is a solar-thermal powered personal seawater desalinator from Solarinno Co. It claims to produce 5 liters of drinkable water per day. That isn’t much, but in underdeveloped countries where drinkable water is scarce, 5 liters can be a difference-maker.  

The Korean-based company may have mastered portable desalination, but it hasn’t spent much time developing a user-friendly website. There is a YouTube video from the founder Dr Pak Hunkyun which was also a bit difficult to decipher.  

The company claims its device is 95% less expensive to produce and is easy to assemble, operate and maintain. If I interpreted it correctly, the device costs in the $50-$100 range. The company is attempting to connect sponsors/donors with potential users.

It’s a worthy cause and critical device for many living in less developed countries. I wish Dr Hunkyun much success.

I’ll cover some of the other products in upcoming posts.

#ces #ces2024 #desalination #bloomberg