How this Sierra Leonean innovator generates electricity from salt water
A Sierra Leonean innovator is turning salt water into a source of electricity, describing it as a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional batteries.
Oswald Abioseh Dundas, who has been developing the technology since 2018, says the principle is simple: salt water can function much like the chemicals inside a standard battery.
“Salt contains magnesium, and it has a positive charge component to it,” he explained. “Like a battery, you need the plus and the minus. For the positive side, you can use copper or aluminium, and for the negative side, carbon or other materials,” he told Global South World.
When both electrodes are placed in a cup of salt water, a reaction occurs that generates electricity. The process is similar to a conventional battery, where chemicals inside react with components to produce energy.
Dundas says the challenge lies in amplifying and converting the raw current into usable voltage through circuits. His team has been testing different elements to find the most effective combination.
Unlike acid-based batteries, he stresses that salt water is safe. “It does not affect the skin because we swim in the sea every day. Salt water doesn’t burn the skin like acid does, and it’s safe for the environment,” he said.
Dundas believes salt water could one day provide a quick, reliable and eco-friendly power source for homes, hospitals, and schools.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
