Sky Source Turns Clouds Into Drinking Water

An incredible and innovative company called Sky Source was just awarded a $1.75 million prize for their “biomass-powered freshwater system” that mimics the way clouds are formed to create water. The water is clean giving it the ability to provide clean drinking water to millions of people around the world

Appropriately named “Sky Water” SkySource reportedly plans to use the prize money to manufacture and distribute the water systems to water-scarce regions of the world in partnership with international relief efforts.

The prize awarded by Water Abundance had three requirements: any technology entered into the competition had to run on 100% clean energy; it had to extract at least 2,000 litres of water from the atmosphere every day, and that water had to cost less than 2 cents per litre.

From the outside the largest SkyWater device looks like an ordinary shipping container but inside of the box, are atmospheric water generators that condense moisture in the atmosphere and filters it, making fresh drinking water. The resulting water droplets are then collected into a water tank that can be dispensed through a tap.

“To illustrate the idea and history of water as a source of community, we worked with a local artist to paint a mural to highlight the bottle filling station. The bottle filling station is open to the public, and since it’s an installation in 2016, it has served hundreds of thirsty locals and visitors.” SkySource

In order to generate the amount of electricity necessary for the system, technology can be powered by biomass such as twigs, branches, or dead trees. Since some disaster-stricken areas may not have access to biomass, the Skywater device can also be adapted to solar power and wind energy power systems as well.

The smaller Skywater model available for purchase produces enough fresh water from air for household use or emergency relief efforts, and it does it more efficiently than any other method of moisture extraction or filtration. Skywater machines are ranging from Skywater 30 (up to 30 gallons of water each day) to Skywater 300 (up to 300 gallons of water a day).” SkySource

David Hertz harvesting water in Big Sur, California. Skywater 150 produces up to 150 gallons a day, and the water can be stored in water collection tanks for future use.

“There are about 37 million billion gallons of water in the atmosphere at any given time, that’s more fresh water than all the rivers on the planet. Water is continuously evaporating from the oceans adding humidity to the atmosphere. Since nature abhors a vacuum, the natural humidity in the environment is immediately replaced with additional moisture from the ocean.”

Check out this neat video on them below!