Atmospheric Water Generation Key to Water Security

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain having predominantly arid and desert climate naturally means that water resource security is a top priority. In this regard, Bahrain heavily relies on sea water desalination as its major source of water supply. Desalination system in Bahrain supplies roughly 59 per cent the nation's total water supply and about 90 per cent of its drinking water. While desalination is the standard go-to option for desert nations, the procedure of desalination itself comes with certain ecological costs. For every gallon of fresh water produced, desalination produces by products in the form of heavily concentrated salt and chemical wastewater which is unhealthy for marine life.

Bahrain's economic vision 2030 visualises a eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable future for the nation and given this ambition, there is an urgent need to implement a hybrid model of securing water resources that are easy on the environment and yet scalable enough to meet the future demands. In this respect Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) neatly fits the bill. AWG cleanly intercepts the water cycle before the vapor touches the sea or ground. By using thermodynamic condensation AWG mimics natural dew formation to harvest completely pure, mineralized drinking water right out of the breeze. In this manner, AWG can help provide environmentally friendly and scalable source of water supply that protects fragile groundwater aquifers and also takes care of marine life. This ensures a promising water resource backup for arid nations.

AWG makes enormous sense for desert nations, especially those that are surrounded by sea such as Bahrain because AWG concept is able to leverage a microclimate paradox which is that of hyper arid land but highly humid air. So while the ground lacks freshwater, the surrounding sea continuously evaporates water vapor into the air. Marine breezes push this dense moisture inland, turning the sky into a massive, renewable reservoir. AWG capitalises on this phenomenon by pulling moisture directly from the air, bypassing the severe environmental and infrastructural limitations of traditional water sourcing. The benefits of AWG have been studied and reinforced by researchers at the University of Bahrain as well.

However, as every concept has a challenge, AWG too faces a significant one that presents a hurdle in its large scale deployment. AWG needs active electric systems that consume significant power making each litre of water costly as compared to desalinated water. This load on electric grid can be discouraging unless efforts are made to combine local electric grids with solar power. Once conventional electric supplies are paired with solar power on large scale, the benefits of AWG will be apparent. Yet another most viable path to cheaper AWG water is replacing power-hungry compressors with advanced sorbent materials such as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) or biomimetic hydrogels. This can help contain the energy costs overruns. AWG can change the water security narrative for Bahrain.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Daily Tribune)