The hidden treasure right in front of us

In short, we can help people and communities to have easy and reliable access to water. My team and I developed an infrastructure that can produce water from the evaporation over oceans.

Let's simplify the process of turning evaporated water into liquid water. Imagine water evaporating and rising into the air, then moving horizontally due to strong winds. The first challenge is capturing this moisture-filled air effectively, despite constantly changing wind directions. The next step involves converting all this moisture into water, a process that requires a lot of energy. This leads to the second challenge: Developing technologies capable of efficiently handling all this captured water. And the third challenge is ensuring the water's quality. 

The energy is a considerable challenge. But we’re trying to solve that with renewable energy sources. 

I want to make two points: first, I realise that ocean surface evaporation is a process, with no upper limit to how much can occur. It's governed by temperature and available energy. Evaporation is a crucial part of the water cycle, where evaporated water returns as rain or snow – resources we rely on. Interestingly, we can harness this process to generate fresh water without harming the oceanic environment, as our process does not disrupt the natural evaporation system. Our method of capturing and condensing water vapor offers a sustainable way to produce fresh water.

The second point is, this approach is resilient to climate change. As the climate warms, we'll see more evaporation and the air's ability to hold moisture will grow, making more water available precisely when it's needed. This addresses one of climate change's primary impacts on humanity—water availability. In a warmer future, this method could provide a critical, adaptable source of fresh water.

Water is fundamental to everyone's life. At some point, we all confront the challenges associated with accessing clean water. Growing up in a region where water was only available for a few hours each day, I experienced these challenges firsthand. There was a period in my life when carrying water from a distant source to my home became not just an expectation but a routine necessity. It was only upon reflection, years later, that I realised such struggles should not be a daily part of anyone's life.

Oh, I'm very optimistic about this! There's a great deal of interest and enthusiasm surrounding it, and we're committed to moving it forward, turning our concepts into actual prototypes, and ultimately into practical solutions.

Absolutely, the project holds a lot of potential. For the first time in a while, there's a viable solution to address water stress that impacts everyone, directly or indirectly. Our published study showcases how structures large enough to make a substantial impact can work with capture areas measuring 200 x 100m, much like the size of a cruise ship. Such a structure could support the water needs of half a million people annually.

This solution is versatile, meaning it can work for various regions and be especially beneficial for somewhat dry to very dry areas worldwide, including places like California, the Middle East, and beyond. Our approach can cater not only to large urban centers but also support smaller coastal communities in diverse ways, from agriculture to industry. The global concern of water stress can be addressed by harnessing ocean evaporation, offering a scalable solution that can support cities' water needs. For instance, about nine such structures could meet Los Angeles's requirements, or three could suffice for Abu Dhabi.

I anticipate having a prototype ready within the next year or two. This will help us gather enough data to create guiding models for the development of larger-scale structures. If investments are received on time, we could begin designing and exploring larger, demand-driven solutions in two to three years.