Arizona-based Source Global has launched solar-powered hydropanels. The technology extracts water vapor molecules from the air, which condense to produce potable water – Source hydropanels can produce up to 5 liters per day. The manufacturer calls it the world’s first renewable drinking water extraction system. The company has introduced its technology in more than 50 countries. Hydropanels operate in areas with varying climatic conditions, such as in the homes of Aboriginal people in Australia and members of the Wayuu tribe in northern Colombia, in luxury resorts in the United Arab Emirates, and provide water to students at a school in Johannesburg. Source assures that the drinking water produced by their invention can be created in almost any climate around the world.
Drinking water – its shortage is the cause of the global crisis
There is a progressive water crisis in the world. Climate change, which is leading to, among other things. to the desertification of many areas of the world, may further exacerbate the depletion of freshwater resources. Currently, more than 2 billion people do not have sufficient access to water. It is estimated that by 2025. Half of the world will live in areas where drinking water is in short supply. The deficit is expected to become increasingly acute in the coming years. The invention of technology and the introduction of solutions to extract and restore drinking water from the environment are key moves to prevent an even bigger crisis. Source Global is one of several companies that say they can offer a solution to water shortages through a technology called atmospheric water generation (AWG).
How do Source hydropanels work? Drinking water in a modern way
Powered by solar energy, the Source hydropanel uses fans to draw in ambient air and collect water vapor on the hygroscopic material. The company’s patented material attracts only water molecules, so the final product is clean. In addition, an integrated filter prevents airborne contaminants from entering. The accumulated steam is condensed and enriched with magnesium and calcium to improve flavor and maintain high quality. Finally, the water is sent to a pressure tank installed at the destination. During storage, it is protected by an integrated sterilization system, keeping the environment inside the tank clean and ensuring pristine quality. Finally, drinking water is released through a designated tap.
“We’re recreating a situation where you walk out of your house in the morning and you see dew on the leaves,” – says Cody Friesen, founder and CEO of Source Global.But with our technology we can do it in the middle of the Sahara at noon.”
The panels have built-in digital sensors that provide insight into water quality and quantity and continuously monitor and transmit production data to the company’s headquarters in Arizona. The Wayuu tribe’s hydropanels produce an average of 3.2 liters of water per day, and on the Navajo Reservation, 2 to 4 liters of water each.
Do Source hydropanels work in every climate?
Hydropanels are solar-powered technology, and for this reason require exposure to light. According to Source, their technology is capable of producing water in almost any environment, including the company’s office in the Arizona desert. However, hydropanel installations in areas with heavy cloud cover may show lower-than-average production. In contrast, in locations with prolonged cold weather, and even when the temperature oscillates around 0°C, the hydropanels go into hibernation and do not function. Source is working to improve its technology so that it can withstand the frigid climate in the colder states of the US, and the drinking water they produce will meet the needs of more communities.
Drinking water, not necessarily bottled
It would seem that long-term extraction of water from the air, by absorbing water vapor, would adversely affect the environment. Scientists at Source have conducted analyses that indicate that the negative impact would only occur if every person on Earth used 70,000. hydropanels.
In many parts of the world, bottled water is not a privilege, but the only way to get a clean drink. This is not ideal, as more than 80% of plastic bottles are not recycled, and this exacerbates the problem of plastic waste accumulation. A single Source hydropanel eliminates the need for 54,000. of single-use plastic bottles over a 15-year lifetime. Source technology has the potential to reduce plastic consumption. The company additionally creates its own line of plastic-free bottled water and continues to install hydropanels in remote parts of the world.
“Bottling is an accepted answer for people who are willing and able to spend money in times of crisis to get better-tasting, better-quality water,” says Friesen. – “But it is unsustainable, inaccessible to many, and carries a huge cost to the planet.”
Photo source: SOURCE Global, PBC