Water-from-air technologies are attracting serious attention as shown by a recent editorial in the journal Nature Water. Highlights from the editorial include:
- Materials science is fostering advances;
- Globally, there are relatively few commercial installations;
- The energy cost of water-from-air remains an obstacle;
- Desiccant technologies coupled with renewable energy sources are likely to be a versatile path forward;
- Relevant markets are remote arid regions with little or no conventional water supplies;
- Energy efficiency depends on a deep understanding of water properties; and
- Although water-from-air has "unique advantages" being "accessible anywhere" and readily used with renewable energy its "role in providing freshwater is still open for discussion".
