WAVR, a new startup at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is exploring atmospheric water harvesting to address water scarcity in Las Vegas. Jeremy Cho, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UNLV, has developed a device that extracts humidity from the air to create water.
Cho explains his work in atmospheric harvesting began as a “science project.” However, the growing climate crisis has led him to pursue mass production for his community and, hopefully, the global population.
The Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine, introduced by the National Science Foundation, plans to offer $15 million in grants to companies researching atmospheric carbon capture or water harvesting. WAVR is one of the first startups to receive this funding. The device uses an air conditioning system to create and capture condensate from the atmosphere.
Cho plans to collaborate with local and global partners to meet various needs, from agricultural to industrial applications.
While similar devices are already available, the difference comes down to output. Unlike previous technologies, the WAVR harvester can yield 17 liters/m2 of water daily in the lab.
Cho states, “We had to demonstrate that we could produce something larger.”
The project is ongoing, but Cho has gained interest from multiple parties, including an in-home dialysis provider and a real estate company in Arizona.
Like Las Vegas, the device could mitigate water constraints in Florida, the Middle East, and other arid areas around the globe.
