Invented
SunGlacier makes drinking water from desert air
A sustainable water machine that can ‘make’ water even in the world's most arid regions. Futuristic? No, because the SunGlacier can make water from desert air right now. The device has enormous potential: millions of people will have access to drinking water, and they can start farming in places previously deemed impossible.
SunGlacier augments water through the principle of a growing waterfall, extracting water from water vapor. Inside the machine, (warm) outside air is blown through a curtain of water. The water vapor in the outside air condenses against the falling droplets, so that the amount of water collecting at the bottom of the system is greater than the amount of water supplied. Thus, the total amount of water grows.
Air, gravity and sun
The machine operates on solar energy. Solar panels made of organic material generate the energy needed to power a battery, the water pump, the cooler and the barrel . The water pump repeatedly pumps the water back up. The ‘extra’ water is drained and collected in a barrel. The basic elements of air, gravity and sun do the work.
Harvesting water
The SunGlacier manages to ‘harvest’ water in a bone-dry desert. The water can be immediately used or stored, which opens up a world of possibilities. The SunGlacier provides a solution for the millions of people on Earth who do not have access to clean drinking water. And with enough water, they can provide farmland with continuous, adequate irrigation at all times.
Art that creates climate awareness
Artist and inventor Ap Verheggen worked for years on his now-patented invention. Already in the 1990s, he saw how the climate was changing. With works of art, Verheggen wanted to create awareness for this. In 2010, he conceived his plan to create a glacier in the desert using solar energy — which marked the start of the SunGlacier project. Since then, the artist-inventor has taken many steps — alone,
but also with many collaborative partners.
“Over Hoop” Prize
In June this year, Verheggen received the 2021 “Over Hoop” (which means “about hope” but also “topsy-turvy” in Dutch) Prize for his SunGlacier invention. This prize is an annual award for groundbreaking initiatives at the intersection of culture and society. The innovative water system is also enjoying a lot of attention abroad: during the World Expo in Dubai, visitors were raving about the Dutch entry. There, the SunGlacier produced 1,200 liters of water every day.
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