by Brianna Crandall — November 2, 2015—The looming global water crisis and the rapid pace of climate change has heightened interest in atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology. Where water purification is not a practical solution and in places with little access to conventional water sources, AWG is a “magic solution,” according to global growth partnership company Frost & Sullivan.
AWG applications
Recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan finds that harvesting water from the air using solar energy will go a long way in mitigating the main consequences of climate change. The key to the success of AWG technology is the total use of renewable energy, according to the report. One of the most impactful applications is large-scale solar AWG for desert re-vegetation and agriculture.
AWG can produce water where there is none at all, so it comes as no surprise that the Middle East is one of its adoption hotspots. Furthermore, as it eliminates the burden of transporting water, it finds significant application in the army, areas that need disaster relief, offshore oil rigs, and in all water-scare regions, irrespective of their economic status, according to the report.
Industry challenges and drivers
However, AWG systems are notoriously energy-hungry. The vast amounts of energy required to generate water from the atmosphere puts the technology at odds with the current trend of energy conservation.
“Recent breakthroughs in energy-efficient technologies promise a brighter future for this once-ancient practice of obtaining water,” noted TechVision Research Analyst Jennifer Tan. “Other processes and technologies that have given a boost to AWG adoption are advanced controls, effective disinfection, materials replacement and commercial water production machines.”
Another issue that is dampening the sales of AWG systems is the skepticism of end users, who are still largely ignorant of the technology. Moreover, its capital costs are higher than those of conventional and familiar water-purification technologies. As people are used to having water free, they are unwilling to install and maintain a machine to obtain water, points out the report.
To enhance technology uptake, industry participants are developing AWG systems that can be run on renewable energy for both large-scale (farms, communities and municipalities) and small-scale (for households and offices) applications. This will make the technology more environmentally sustainable, at lower operating costs, while meeting the need for clean water.
“Key industry participants believe that as the market acceptance increases, the costs of AWG systems will reduce, making it a commercially feasible technology,” observed Tan.
Report
Available for purchase from Frost & Sullivan, Technology Breakthroughs Shaping the Future of Atmospheric Water Generation, provides value chain analysis, market size and potential, technology developers and regional footprint, the gaps in the AWG industry, innovations enabling the future of the AWG technology, a technology roadmap and market impact analysis.
The report is a part of the company’s TechVision subscription, an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and studies.
