In September 2010, the international conference 'Our Future with Green Energy' took place on the island of Aruba. At the associated trade and science fair Dutch water technology company Hatenboer-Water showed its drinking water installation 'Drinking with the Wind'. This mobile system produces drinking water in a sustainable manner. Nobel prize winner and former US vice president, Al Gore, visited the event, which was held for the first time on the Leeward Island. The five-day conference was opened by professor Wubbo Ockels.
Alternative energy
The Aruban government, Utilities Aruba and public service companies WEB and ELMAR joined forces to organise the conference. In addition to Al Gore, a number of other well-known speakers presented their views on the subject of alternative energy, including Dr Edward Cheung (specialist at Nasa in relation to the Hubble telescope), professor Wim Sinke (Utrecht University / ECN Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands) and Hugo van Nispen (KEMA US). The speakers directed their attention to the generation of energy from wind, sun and water.
'Drinking with the Wind'
At the organization's request, Hatenboer-Water displayed the 'Drinking with the Wind' drinking water production installation. This installation desalinates seawater or brackish groundwater using a combination of wind and sun energy together with a reverse osmosis system. The installation is mobile, easily transportable to the chosen site, and can be disassembled and reassembled for optimum flexibility. At the same time, its construction and supply in a container increases its durability. The installation has been developed in particular for decentralised water treatment in developing countries and on small islands, for example, where there is a lack of clean drinking water and electricity. Such an installation fits in well in the range of mobile water treatment systems as designed and built by Hatenboer-Water.
Development
'Drinking with the Wind' was developed in collaboration with the Delft University of Technology, with the first initiatives for the project coming into being in 2007, with the decision being made to continue with the project in 2008. Hatenboer-Water took care of the water technology aspects, Fortis Wind Energy supplied the windmill and Nieuwe Weme arranged the installation of the system in a standard container.
Science fair
In addition to the sustainable drinking water installation, also to be seen at the science fair included the Nuon Solar Team with the Nuna 4 solar vehicle, and another delegation from Delft University with their hydrogen-fuelled go-kart.
Membrane filtration systems
Hatenboer-Water is an all-round company with expertise in the design and construction of membrane filtration systems in, inter alia, the maritime and offshore sector, industry and horticulture. Hatenboer-Water supplies the water treatment systems for 'Drinking with the Wind' as well as dealing with the sales and service for the total concept. Shortly, on its return to the Netherlands, the mobile demonstration installation will be reconstructed on the quay at Schiedam, directly in front of the Hatenboer-Water headquarters. And before the end of this year the first production installation will be put into operation on the island of Kupang in Indonesia.
