As
countries around the world grapple with water shortages due to
fast-growing populations and changing climates, silicon technology is
helping farmers around the world irrigate their crops more efficiently,
reducing the amount of water required.
According
to UNICEF, almost three million people lack sufficient water in China’s
northern Shanxi province; in India, 12 states are facing the most
severe drought in a century; and in Pakistan, nearly three million
citizens are at risk of starvation due to a drought that has affected
crops and livestock.
Roughly
70% of all fresh water used internationally is for agricultural
purposes, so technology innovations and conservation through efficient
irrigation systems are going to play an increasingly important role in
ensuring adequate water supply to keep up with expanding food
requirements, according to Conservation International.
Solar-powered
pumps and silicone rubber membranes used in drip irrigation systems to
control water flow are two such silicon-enabled innovations that can
help.
Photovoltaic
(PV) solar panels rely on polycrystalline silicon to covert the sun’s
energy into electricity and can power devices such as water pumps that
can be moved from one location to another without having to be connected
to a municipal power grid, which is especially critical to farmers in
remote villages.
“Solar
energy provides an exciting convergence of sun and silicon – two
abundant, natural resources that will enable a sustainable,
environmentally friendly solution to global energy and water needs,”
said Greg Bausch, solar product market manager for Hemlock Semiconductor
Group, one of the world’s largest producers of polycrystalline silicon
and a joint venture of which Dow Corning Corp.is majority shareholder.
But
the role of silicon-based materials does not stop there. Due to its
durability and ability to perform across wide temperature ranges,
silicone rubber used in drip irrigation systems can help control the
amount of water – in some cases, just a few drops at a time – released
into the soil.
“Water
conservation is one area where silicon-based materials can help address
a growing global problem and make a difference in people’s lives,” said
Justin Jorgensen, global marketing manager for Dow Corning’s XIAMETER
brand. “In addition, the need to conserve water is most urgent in parts
of the developing world where cost is an issue. With the XIAMETER brand,
we provide reliable, high-quality, standard silicone products without
the cost or complexity of customization that our customers don’t need.”
Separate downloadable rubber selector guides are available to customers in the Americas (HCR and LSR), Europe (HCR and LSR), Asia (HCR and LSR), and Japan specifically (HCR and LSR).
SOURCE: Dow Corning
