SOURCE Global, PBC will test in Dubai its hydropanel technology to extract water from the air using the sun’s energy, informs Utilities Middle East. The company’s Vice President Vahid Fotuhi spoke to CNN about their objectives to provide drinking water to over two billion people in water-scarce countries.
According to Fotuhi, 1.5 million litres of water are produced every year in the Dubai desert, using sunlight as a source of energy. Hydropanel technology uses the sun’s energy to power a fan that draws in air into a sponge-like material where water molecules are absorbed and collected.
“These hydropanels are effectively producing high quality drinking water day in, day out without requiring any infrastructure, any power or any type of grid”, said Fotuhi. He also mentioned that a big barrier is convincing people of their idea: “As with most disruptive technologies, initially people are hesitant to change. They're reluctant to try something new and the same holds for the water sector”.
SOURCE established itself in Dubai in 2017 because they think the region is open to invest in this kind of solutions. Not only is Dubai a hub for the region of the Middle East and North Africa, it is also open to innovations in sectors such as agriculture and water, noted Fotuhi. The company currently operates in 48 countries, but their largest water farm is in Dubai, where they have recently introduced 1,250 hydropanels.
