Funded by U.K. Falkland Islands Trust, the FIDC project aims to demonstrate production of water in rural areas of Falkland Islands.
Having successfully secured funding, FIDC recently commenced a project to deliver a feasibility trial of a solar powered desalination plant to supply drinking water to Goose Green Farm in East Falkland.
The project will run for at least one (1) year, with an ongoing data gathering and assessment beyond that date to ensure FIDC can offer support to others exploring the technology with the best data available. Additionally, FIDC will be exploring options to support new projects in solar powered desalination once data is collected from the trial.
U.K. Falkland Islands Trust agreed to fully fund the purchase, delivery, and installation of the entire project, alongside Falklands Landholdings Corporation (FLH), which is assisting with the building works for the project groundworks, pipework, and installation at Goose Green.Â
The unit is a self-contained, which has been designed and built by Netherlands-based company Elemental Water Makers, a multi award winning company with a strong focus on delivery of technically advanced water treatment solutions.
Elemental Water Makers has been instrumental in the design and scoping of this trial and have extensive experience in delivering water treatment solutions globally, with experience in remote areas and disaster relief.
The unit at Goose Green will be sited in a 20-ft standard shipping container, with included insulation, power equipment and monitoring equipment all contained within the same unit. It will be entirely solar powered, with a large array sited nearby with included power infrastructure and batteries included as part of the trial unit.
“It is great to have the FIDC Board support such an initiative, and UKFIT in recognizing the potential for long-term, tangible benefits to water production across the Falkland Islands,” said Sam Cockwell, Strategic Projects Manager for FIDC. “We are looking forward to having this project up and running, and for the whole of the Falkland Islands to see it in operation.”
FIDC is hopeful that this project will demonstrate not only that solar powered desalination is a potential solution for larger settlements, but also that the modular design will allow smaller settlements, and outlying islands to take advantage of the technology to assist with availability of drinking water.
FIDC anticipates the unit to be installed and working by the end of April 2027, assuming no major delays.
Watch the Falkland Islands Television report here: Falklands In Focus | 29th May 2026
