[미국] 물부족 대응 위한 애리조나 센터 개소

미국 애리조나대학의 지속가능한 물·에너지기술(WEST)센터가 문을 열었다. 설립 후원자인 다우 워터 앤 프로세스 솔루션스(Dow Water and Process Solutions)에 따르면 센터는 “물부족에 대응하기 위한 더욱 지속가능한 에너지 솔루션 및 신기술을 개발하기 위해 연구진, 공무원, 산업 선두주자들이 협업할 것”이라고 밝혔다.

다우는 이번 550만 달러 규모의 센터가 연구 및 기술개발을 통해 미국 내 점차 증가하는 물·에너지 수요를 충족하기 위해 산업, 정부, 학계를 한 데로 합칠 것으로 기대하고 있다.

The University of Arizona's Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Centre has opened with a brief to "help enable researchers, public officials, and industry leaders to work together in developing new technologies and more energy sustainable solutions to address water scarcity," according to founding member and sponsor, Dow Water and Process Solutions.

Dow said the US$ 5.5 million centre will bring together industry, government, and academia to address the nation's growing water and energy needs through research and technology. Dow research and development director and WEST industrial advisory board member, Tracy Young, said the centre: "shares our commitment to advancing technology and sustainability partnerships to help address the water-energy nexus and bring us closer to a circular economy."

She added: "Powerful public-private partnerships like this one are key to advancing and commercializing energy efficient solutions for water treatment."

The WEST Center is co-located with the Pima County Water Reclamation Facility (Agua Nueva) and next to reclaimed water recharge basins and constructed wetlands. It will develop and evaluate technologies that advance sustainability in water and energy and bring on technology transfer between public utilities and the private sector.

Global business director, Dow Water and Process Solutions, Snehal Desai, said: "Public-private partnerships help inspire water innovation to combat the current water, food and energy shortages while also creating a step-change for the future."

Dow said its involvement with the WEST Center aligns with its 2025 sustainability goals. The company aims to work with industry leaders, non-profit organizations and governments on projects that improve adoption of sustainable solutions in water re-use.

[출처 = Desalination & Water Reuse / 2015년 12월 1일]