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Company facts
Name:Business:The climate innovation:Climate EffectFounded in:Key persons:Homepage:
Solvatten AB
Providing a sustainable and reliable household water solution for low income countries
Solar Safe Water System
- 26 million tons of CO2 emissions per year by 2020*
2006
Petra Wadström, Inventor & CEO
Claire Wigg
Johanna Åhman
David Wadström
Innovation status
INNOVATION
INNOVATION
Safe drinking water is a basic human need, yet 1.2 billion people live without it. And over 80 million households worldwide boil water to make it safe for drinking, using wood, charcoal, coal, and dung for boiling, which leads to both deforestation and CO2 emissions. In some parts of the developing world (e.g. Sub-Saharan Africa) the percentage of the population using solid fuels for obtaining safe drinking water is as high as 75%.
SOLVATTEN, a simple system that uses solar energy, built-in turbulence, and filtration, can provide clean water to people who need it while at the same time treating the environment more kindly.
SOLVATTEN is a verified and patented system for household use, designed with users in mind. Within the unit the synergistic effect of heat and UV light from the sun inactivates the organisms which cause water-borne disease. The result: water that meets WHO guidelines for drinking (<1 E-coli/100ml) water.
SOLVATTEN is simple to use, cost-effective, and reliable. Once set up, the water treatment process takes 2-6 hours, depending on the weather, and an indicator shows when the water is safe for drinking. In addition the system functions as a portable solar heater, providing warm water for personal hygiene.
SOLVATTEN, a simple system that uses solar energy, built-in turbulence, and filtration, can provide clean water to people who need it while at the same time treating the environment more kindly.
SOLVATTEN is a verified and patented system for household use, designed with users in mind. Within the unit the synergistic effect of heat and UV light from the sun inactivates the organisms which cause water-borne disease. The result: water that meets WHO guidelines for drinking (<1 E-coli/100ml) water.
SOLVATTEN is simple to use, cost-effective, and reliable. Once set up, the water treatment process takes 2-6 hours, depending on the weather, and an indicator shows when the water is safe for drinking. In addition the system functions as a portable solar heater, providing warm water for personal hygiene.
CLIMATE BENEFITS
CLIMATE BENEFITS
For households worldwide that are currently boiling water with solid fuels, SOLVATTEN offers an environmentally-friendly alternative. Deforestation and CO2 emissions will be reduced when users switch from boiling, with the added benefit of reduced indoor fires and better indoor air quality. Lowering the incidence of pneumonia, acute respiratory illnesses, and lung damage is a huge side benefit of SOLVATTEN.
If distributed to 20% of its 80-million-household target market, this water treatment technology could reduce CO2 emissions by 26 million tonnes per year by 2020.*
If distributed to 20% of its 80-million-household target market, this water treatment technology could reduce CO2 emissions by 26 million tonnes per year by 2020.*
next steps
next steps
SOLVATTEN will soon be ready for market launch - prototypes are being used in the field, and initial product development is almost complete. The aim of Solvatten AB is to distribute this system to millions of households over the next few years.
Field trials will be carried out in a variety of settings during 2009 and 2010 and the product will be sold to NGOs, which will subsidize its introduction. By mid-2010, once the user acceptance is proven, SOLVATTEN will be marketed to international aid agencies. It is expected that there will be distribution to six countries by the end of 2010.
SOLVATTEN may also be attractive for households where water supply is expensive or unreliable, such as the growing middle class in India. To reach this market Solvatten AB will make commercial distribution agreements, the first of which will be set up in 2010.
Solvatten AB will expand in Sweden for now, and will form partnerships with a wide variety of organisations overseas for sales and distribution. In time a new owner, whose aims are aligned to those of Solvatten AB, will be sought to take the technology further.
Field trials will be carried out in a variety of settings during 2009 and 2010 and the product will be sold to NGOs, which will subsidize its introduction. By mid-2010, once the user acceptance is proven, SOLVATTEN will be marketed to international aid agencies. It is expected that there will be distribution to six countries by the end of 2010.
SOLVATTEN may also be attractive for households where water supply is expensive or unreliable, such as the growing middle class in India. To reach this market Solvatten AB will make commercial distribution agreements, the first of which will be set up in 2010.
Solvatten AB will expand in Sweden for now, and will form partnerships with a wide variety of organisations overseas for sales and distribution. In time a new owner, whose aims are aligned to those of Solvatten AB, will be sought to take the technology further.
Barriers and Challenges
The primary challenge for any clean-water technology is to gain user acceptance. Daily routines for people in developing countries are often built around the collection and treatment of water, and the adoption of a new solution requires behavioural change – a time- and resource-intensive process. Support from local and international organisations in the implementation process is critical.
SOLVATTEN technology was developed in Sweden, where costs for production and labor are high, while end users in developing countries have scant disposable income. This presents financial challenges. Although subsidies are available, the processes for securing them are slow and cumbersome.
The primary challenge for any clean-water technology is to gain user acceptance. Daily routines for people in developing countries are often built around the collection and treatment of water, and the adoption of a new solution requires behavioural change – a time- and resource-intensive process. Support from local and international organisations in the implementation process is critical.
SOLVATTEN technology was developed in Sweden, where costs for production and labor are high, while end users in developing countries have scant disposable income. This presents financial challenges. Although subsidies are available, the processes for securing them are slow and cumbersome.
the team
the team
Petra Wadström developed SOLVATTEN based on her personal experiences travelling and observing the difficulty that people, and especially women, have obtaining safe water for their families. Using her design expertise and scientific background, she crafted the SOLVATTEN idea and has been refining it since 2000.
Solvatten AB was established in 2006 as the vehicle to develop the SOLVATTEN solar safe water system. The company is privately owned and financed. In addition to Petra Wadström, the Solvatten team is made up of internationally experienced and highly committed staff. The SOLVATTEN solution has received widespread recognition and won a number of awards - Miljöinnovationtävlingen, King Carl Gustav XII’s Stipendium, Stockholm Business Region, and SKAPA priset to mention a few.
Solvatten AB was established in 2006 as the vehicle to develop the SOLVATTEN solar safe water system. The company is privately owned and financed. In addition to Petra Wadström, the Solvatten team is made up of internationally experienced and highly committed staff. The SOLVATTEN solution has received widespread recognition and won a number of awards - Miljöinnovationtävlingen, King Carl Gustav XII’s Stipendium, Stockholm Business Region, and SKAPA priset to mention a few.
