Southern Nevada is in the grip of one of the worst droughts it has experienced in recorded history, leading to water shortages and restrictions on use. So, in water-stressed areas such as this, the prospect of wringing water from thin air is an appealing prospect. And it is exactly what Cody Friesen is trying to do.
Friesen, an associate professor of materials science at Arizona State University, has developed a solar-powered hydropanel that can absorb water vapour at high volumes when exposed to sunlight.
It is a modern-day twist on an approach been used for centuries to pull water from the atmosphere, such as using trees or nets to “catch” fog in Peru, a practice that dates back to the 1500s and is still being used today.
What about in London? The UK is very humid, yet London relies heavily on ~40% unsustainable groundwater
Properly managed, groundwater can be sustainable.
The issue is that the energy required per litre of water is poor, even with high humidity. Other options, like long pipelines from other areas or desalination, start looking very appealing.