Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/95079
businessspecial HYDRATION HIGH-TECH Peter Johnstone, CEO of F Cubed Solar Water Processors, is understandably passionate about the potential his Carocell desalination technology has to save millions of lives, writes Chelsea Anstee. It's difficult to believe that in the 21st century there are more than one billion people in the world without clean drinking water, including people in Australia. Thanks to technology developed by Peter Johnstone (pictured), CEO and founder of F Cubed Solar Water Processors, that could be set to change. If only he could garner the support of his own government. Ten years ago, Peter created a product that turns industrially marred water into perfectly clean and accessible water without producing greenhouse gases. "When water evaporates and condenses it becomes pure water," says Peter, who spent much time studying evaporation in his past business ventures. The Carocell solar desalination technology is the first of its kind and was developed here in Australia. It ensures completely purified water that is better than bottled water and is far cheaper at $2 per 1,000 litres, rather than $2 per half-litre. It also eliminates concerns about the detrimental health and environmental impacts of plastic bottles. Recently, F Cubed signed an agreement with the South Australian town of Ceduna to provide the local council area with fresh drinking water for 20 years. Ceduna will have the first and biggest water farm in the world with six hectares of direct solar desalination units. However, both the local government and F Cubed have failed to get support from the South Australian government or the federal government. "It doesn't seem as if anyone here wants to help us. It's very disappointing," says Peter. Carocell solar desalination technology emits no greenhouse gases and uses no chemicals, costly membranes, filters, electronics or ongoing power source other than solar radiation. "However, because our product doesn't fit a certain criteria, we aren't entitled to receive carbon credits," Peter says. He also points out that other companies are using sizeable amounts of energy and discharging waste back into the ocean, yet if they swapped to solar power they would receive carbon credits, whereas Peter's F Cubed product doesn't qualify. Each year, 3.5 million people die from waterborne diseases around the world; many of them are children. Although Peter has been unable to garner the support of the Australian Government, F Cubed has established foreign- government-supported projects in Africa, South Africa, Asia and South America. The Carocell technology also has the support of the Gates Foundation and Save the Children. "For the cost of $3 per person, per year, 3.5 million people wouldn't die, and half of the hospital beds would be available for treating other diseases," Peter says of his Carocell system. In addition to being a low- cost way to improve and save lives, it will also "reduce carbon outputs by 10 per cent worldwide" just by saving the power it takes for 300 million families to boil water to a sanitary condition each day. Furthermore, the time it takes for people in developing countries to find water – up to five hours a day – could be spent earning a living. Peter says he's receiving positive reports from the 200–300 homes in Vietnam that are using his company's technology to source clean drinking water. "They call it sweet water. Compared with what they've been drinking, we make sweet water. That's a good feeling." 73