TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Elon Musk said that solar power plants (PLTS) could be a solution to the global water availability crisis. Although it still requires extensive research, Elon explained that solar power plants have the potential to provide cheaper and more effective new renewable energy for the seawater desalination process to provide clean water.

"We continue to make breakthroughs in desalination efficiency and I think we have done it," he said. "We have a good water future and I think a good sustainable energy future is also ahead of us," the Tesla Inc. and SpaceX owner and CEO said in his opening remarks at the 10th World Water Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday, May 20.

Desalination, the process of removing salt from water so that it becomes clean water that can be consumed by the public, has been regarded as an energy-intensive and expensive process. However, Elon said that this process can be implemented effectively and cheaply if it uses solar energy.

Elon also said that the cost of storing electricity in batteries has dropped dramatically by tenfold in the last five years. He said solar power plants can generate about one gigawatt (GW) per square kilometer (km) of surface solar radiation. "That's quite a lot."

He stressed that harnessing this energy "can solve a lot of the world's energy needs" and help provide clean water around the world.

"Desalination, as most people know, has become very cheap now. The availability of clean water is just a matter of energy and water transport," he said.

TEMPO.CO

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