Kenya builds first solar-powered farm that makes ocean water drinkable.

A non-governmental organization called Give Power based in Kenya has built its first solar-powered farm that turns ocean water into portable water. The project developers said the initiative aims to reduce problems relating to access to clean water.

The solar powered farm is sited by the Indian Ocean in the village of Kiunga on the Eastern coast of Kenya. It is a region which has seen extreme drought for many years denying the 3,500 residents access to hygienic drinking water.

The solar water farm will harvest solar power and produce 50 kilowatts of energy. This will power two water pumps that run 24 hours a day turning the salty water safely into drinkable water.

It is expected to provide 20 years of access to clean water and benefit over 25,000 people daily.

“Humanity needs to take swift action to address the increasingly severe global water crisis that faces the developing world. With our background in off-grid clean energy, Give Power can immediately help by deploying solar water farm solutions to save lives in areas throughout the world that suffer from prolonged water scarcity,” said president of Give Power, Hayes Barnard.

With a population of 50 million, 41% of Kenyans still rely on unimproved water sources, such as ponds, shallow wells and rivers, while 71% of Kenyans use unimproved sanitation solutions. These challenges are especially evident in the rural areas and the urban slums. Only 9 out of 55 public water service providers in Kenya provide continuous water supply, leaving people to find their own ways of searching for appropriate solutions to these basic needs.

This initiative is worth applauding and a step in the right direction to impacting and saving lives across Africa.