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Company HistorySaltworks' desalination process was invented, prototyped, and first piloted in Canada. Co-founder, Ben Sparrow, devised the underlying process and built an initial prototype. This achievement culminated from six years of study in the field of computational solution based thermodynamics, which included a publication in a peer reviewed journal on the thermodynamics of saltwater.The National Research Council of Canada and BC Hydro's Powertech Labs both witness tested the technology in desalting saltwater to a potable concentration in the summer of 2008. Joshua Zoshi and Ben Sparrow subsequently founded Saltworks. In September 2008, Saltworks won awards in both the First and Sustainability Prizes at the New Ventures BC Competition 2008. Saltworks quickly grew out of its first facility where the pilot plant was developed and subsequently moved to a larger seafront location. Here Saltworks permitted and built Canada's first seawater desalination test facility complete with intakes, pre-treatment, and outfalls. In January 2009, BC Hydro - a power utility - partnered with Saltworks on its pilot plant project and provided funding. In the summer of 2009 Saltworks built and commenced testing of a 135 m2 solar test plant in the Okanagan region of BC. During this time the company received a number of competitive government grants from the National Research Council of Canada, BC Innovative Clean Energy Fund, and Sustainable Development Technology Canada. Saltworks' novel, yet simple, technology is now under continuous testing on real seawater. The company is ready to provide a needed solution to the desalination market. |
