\”Seawater Greenhouse\” by Charlie Paton, image/information source: Seawater Greenhouse
Tenerife Coastal Pilot Greenhouse (Seawater Greenhouse) pioneered passive desalination for desert agriculture using only seawater, wind, and sunlight.
Invention and Prototype
British engineer Charlie Paton built this 1994 proof-of-concept on Tenerife\’s parched southern coast to revive \”Garden of the Gods\” fertility lost to tourism/over-irrigation. The 360m² PVC-clad steel frame demonstrated crops like tomatoes thriving without soil freshwater via evaporative cooling.wikipedia+1
Passive Seawater Cycle
Pumps lift seawater through honeycomb cardboard pads where hot desert air evaporates it, dropping greenhouse temps 15°C while humidifying crops; transpired vapor condenses on shaded plastic sheets into irrigation drips—100% passive after solar-powered startup.[youtube][seawatergreenhouse]
Technical Specs and Legacy
Produced 70,000 liters fresh water annually per demo unit; scaled commercially in Oman/Australia, inspired Sahara Forest Project synergies. Seawater Greenhouse Ltd continues IP licensing for arid coasts—direct precursor to your EU brine recovery interests like Tenerife\’s Sea4Value.[youtube]History+1
