A Bengaluru startup, Uravu, has achieved a very powerful innovation, thanks to its system that converts air into water using atmospheric water generators that contain a liquid desiccant that absorbs moisture from the air.

Using sunlight or renewable electricity, they heat the desiccant to 65°C, releasing moisture, which can then be condensed into drinking water. Each unit produces around 2,000 liters of drinking water.

Water scarcity is not new, but many countries, especially in the global south, are experiencing intense droughts and floods related to climate change that contaminate water sources.

More than 50% of the world's population (4 billion people) experience water scarcity at least once a month, while by 2025, 1.8 billion people are expected to live in countries or regions with "absolute" water scarcity, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Could atmospheric water generation technology be the answer?

Thanks to its energy efficiency (it can run on renewable sources) it is a way to provide a source of fresh water without the need for traditional water infrastructure, making it an attractive option in remote locations. There are two main methods for generating atmospheric water.

• First, there is the cooling and condensation process that cools humid air to its dew point, causing water vapor to condense into liquid water.
• The second is a desiccant-based system that uses hygroscopic materials to absorb moisture from the air and then release it through a heating process.

Government support, subsidies or environmental regulations could drive greater adoption of this technology.

Looking ahead, Uravu Labs is exploring how advances in materials science can improve the efficiency of desiccants, or how using a different material to absorb more moisture from the air could make the process more effective.

Data centers generate a lot of heat that is normally lost, but Uravu plans to use it to generate fresh water. This process will result in up to a 95% reduction in fresh water consumption (by the data center), as the Uravu system captures most of the waste heat and returns cold water, which is why it is needed very little fresh water. These advances will also result in a reduction in heat requirements from 60°C to 40°C.