The Water Abundance XPRIZE is a two-year competition aimed at encouraging scientists, engineers, and dreamers alike to invent solutions to the global water crisis. The prize was awarded over the weekend to a team of California-based sustainability experts called the Skysource/Skywater Alliance who designed a machine called Skywater. The prize granted the team $1.5 million.
This environmental innovation has the capacity to generate up to 300 gallons of clean drinking water straight from the air. The machine itself is an atmospheric water generator that condenses water vapor from the atmosphere in order to produce drinking water. The machines run on completely renewable energy sources, either via solar energy or biofuels. The team says this technology is particularly important for emergency relief or areas struggling with extended drought, though it has a wide range of uses.
David Hertz, one of the team’s leaders says there are roughly 37.5 million billion gallons of water in the atmosphere which could be used to cultivate fresh water. According to Skysource, that’s more fresh water than in all the rivers on Earth. Want to learn more about this unique innovation? Watch the video!
Source: CNN
