hydropanels transform air into water turning roofs into wells with unlimited supply

arizona-based startup zero mass water has created a water-as-service model that uses a panel to create water out of thin air. unveiled at CES last week, the solar-powered technology provides off-grid, independent access to perfect drinking water and could help communities to create their own sustainable source where water is scarce or unsafe.

live from las vegas: designboom has covered all of the latest launches from CES 2020 from the trade show grounds.

images courtesy of zero mass water

first introduced in 2017, zero mass water’s ‘source hydropanels’ use solar power to extract water from captured vapor. the panels require no electricity or public utility infrastructure, meaning they can be installed anywhere in the world for an off-grid, sustainable solution.

at CES 2020, zero mass water unveiled a new residential model, called rexi, which is half the size of a standard hydropanel. optimized for rooftop water production, the panels could provide water in homes, as well as schools and businesses.

the hydropanels work by adsorbing water vapor from the air onto a hygroscopic material. the efficient application of solar energy causes the water vapor to respire from the materials inside the hydropanel, raising the relative humidity to a passively condensing vapor.

the hygroscopic materials only attract water molecules making the liquid water pure. the innovations behind source earned the company the 2019 lemelson-mit prize, awarded for invention by the prestigious technical institution.

preorders begin today, and installations are scheduled to begin in summer 2020. the new source rexi hydropanels retail for $2,500.

project info

company: zero mass water
produce: rexi
price: $2,500
available: to pre-order
event: CES 2020