"Chinese scientist Wang Ruzhu has introduced what is described as the world's first comprehensive solution for atmospheric water harvesting, offering a green and accessible method to produce drinking water by extracting moisture directly from the air. Footage filmed at Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Monday, shows Dr Wang presenting the system, which is designed to address water scarcity in regions with limited access to tap water or natural freshwater sources. "In many situations, humans lack access to tap water or natural water sources," Wang said. "However, the atmosphere presents a vast reservoir of water. Even a single cubic meter of air can contain 10 to 30 grams of water, and desert regions still hold around three to five grams." Developed through a collaboration between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Atmoswell, the project includes three different technological solutions tailored to varying climate conditions. The first uses condensation-based air-to-water technology for hot and humid regions, while the second combines energy conversion dehumidification with condensation for semi-arid environments. A third solution integrates advanced materials with heat pump technology to extract water even in extremely dry areas. According to Wang, the goal is to minimise energy consumption while maximising water output. "Water resources in the air are abundant," he explained. "Take Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and China's vast islands and reefs in the South China Sea, for example. These regions are surrounded by seawater, yet the air remains relatively humid. If water can be extracted from the air, it would be a low-cost solution." For desert regions far from the coast, Wang explained that the system uses adsorption technology, low-cost adsorbent materials to capture moisture. This extracted water is then heated using solar energy or electric heating, causing it to decompose and condense into liquid water. Wang acknowledged that energy efficiency remains the key challenge. "In cold, humid conditions, one kilowatt-hour of electricity might produce around four litres of water. In dry conditions, however, it could take one or two kilowatt-hours to generate just one litre of water." He stressed that the project focuses on combining existing technologies with practical conditions to identify the optimal design solution, involving integrating materials, components and energy management to reduce costs and consumption. "The critical cost metric is how much each litre of water will cost. If we can compete with bottled water and offer a significantly lower price, then this product will be viable for deployment," scientist said. For his contributions to sustainable energy solutions, Wang was honoured as a 2023 Global Energy Prize laureate."