TERI and Maithri Aquatech sign MoU to generate water from air moisture

February 27, 2020
TERI and Maithri Aquatech sign MoU

The key focus of the partnership will be to assess the adaptability of this technology for different climatic zones as well as habitations in India

New Delhi, February 27, 2020: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Maithri Aquatech Pvt Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to work towards facilitating the Government of India's vision to provide universal access to drinking water through an innovative 'Air to Water' technology. The product, MEGHDOOT, is an Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) & Remineralizer that condenses air moisture, collects it, and produces safe drinking water. The alliance between TERI and Maithri will create evidence for the better acceptability of 'air to water' technology in India.

Dr Syamal Kumar Sarkar, Distinguished Fellow, TERI, said, "We are joining hands with Maithri with an aim to assess the potential of their technology in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of equitable access to water or the goal under Jal Jeevan Mission of the Government of India for providing piped water connection to every rural household by 2024." If found feasible, TERI will work on raising wider awareness about the technology.

"This partnership provides an opportunity to connect with technological expertise and share Maithri's experience to understand the generation of water from the air," Dr Sarkar added.

M Ramkrishna, Founder and Managing Director, Maithri Aquatech Pvt Ltd, said, "Maithri has developed the World's first 'Air to Water technology' under Make in India initiative. Our solution, named MEGHDOOT, has been developed to reduce dependence on groundwater sources, by harvesting atmospheric moisture. The technology has been designed with an intricate filtration system that rids the collected moisture from all contaminants and odours. The technology can meet the water requirement of all companies, from MSMEs to large corporations, educational institutes, hospitals, airports, residences, etc."

Key features of MEGHDOOT:

  • Produces 100% microbe-free potable water
  • Requires minimum maintenance, and easy to set up and use
  • A decentralised and environmentally-friendly solution

The atmosphere contains 37.5 million billion gallons of water as moisture and less than 1% of it is required to meet our global water demand.

According to Maithri, the technology has been deployed successfully in Indian Railways, Army, private organisations, hospitals, residences, among others.

On the benefits of MEGHDOOT, Dr Shresth Tayal, Senior Fellow, Water Resources at TERI, said the 'Air to Water' technology has the potential to make individual household semi-independent in terms of their water requirement. "It is supposed to function like electricity inverter/DG sets, through which users can generate water on their own. This technology can be effectively utilised for providing water to far-flung communities in mountains, deserts, islands, etc.," Dr Tayal said.

Under the MoU, TERI will conduct a study on the suitability and adaptability of the 'Air to Water' technology under different climatic conditions. Under the joint collaboration, TERI and Maithri Aquatech Pvt Ltd. will also approach the relevant stakeholders including the government ministries, departments, state governments, and other related agencies, for effective dissemination of the results of a collaborative study.

About TERI

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is an independent, multi-dimensional organisation, with capabilities in research, policy, consultancy and implementation. It has pioneered conversations and action in the energy, environment, climate change, and sustainability space for over four decades.

The institute's research and research-based solutions have had a transformative impact on industry and communities. Headquartered in New Delhi, it has regional centres and campuses in Gurugram, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Mumbai, Panaji, and Nainital, supported by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, sociologists, economists and engineers, and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

For further information, contact:
TERI – Dhawal Trivedi: dhawal.trivedi@teri.res.in
Edelman – Rakhi Aurora: rakhi.aurora@edelman.com

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Drinking water
Water harvesting
Water management
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