Nobel Laureate: Eco-Friendly Invention Produces 1,000 Liters of Water Daily Without Electricity

Nobel Prize-winning chemist Omar Yaghi

Saudi Nobel laureate Omar Yaghi invents a technology to extract water from dry air

Saudi Nobel Prize-winning chemist Omar Yaghi says his new invention for extracting water from the air could be a game-changer in addressing drought and supply shortages, especially in island nations and areas vulnerable to climate disasters.

The technology relies on a scientific field known as "reticular chemistry," which involves designing materials with a fine molecular structure capable of capturing moisture from the air and converting it into usable water, even in arid and desert environments, according to the British newspaper The Guardian.

According to Atoco, the company founded by Yaghi, the units designed for this technology—about the size of a 20-foot shipping container—operate entirely on very low ambient heat and can produce up to 1,000 liters of clean water daily, without relying on electricity or central water grids.

This feature allows it to operate in areas affected by hurricanes or droughts, where traditional infrastructure often fails. Yaghi is a professor of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Saudi national. He won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in designing advanced porous materials.

He noted that the hurricanes and floods that regularly strike the Caribbean—such as Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa—have exposed the fragility of traditional water systems, emphasizing that enhancing the resilience of water supplies is a pressing need, especially in small island states vulnerable to extreme weather events.

“The Age of Water Bankruptcy”

This development comes at a time when a recent UN report warned that the world is entering what it called an “age of water bankruptcy,” with nearly three-quarters of the planet’s population living in countries experiencing varying degrees of water insecurity, and more than two billion people lacking access to safely managed drinking water.

In Grenada, which was severely affected by Hurricane Beryl in 2014, local officials view the new technology as a promising option, particularly on the islands of Cariacou and Petite Martinique, which are still grappling with the aftermath of the devastation, along with the challenges of drought and coastal erosion. 

Officials say the technology's ability to operate outside of traditional grids is a strategic advantage, given the high cost of importing water and the increased risk associated with centralized systems failing during disasters.Yaghi believes the technology is a more sustainable option compared to seawater desalination, which can negatively impact marine ecosystems due to the discharge of concentrated brine. 

He added that climate solutions are no longer a technological luxury but an existential necessity, emphasizing the importance of supporting scientific research, protecting academic freedom, and strengthening international cooperation in addressing climate and water challenges.

Yaghi has repeatedly recounted his personal experience as a child in a refugee community in Jordan, where water was only available once every week or two, affirming that this hardship served as the primary motivation for his scientific career.

As the effects of climate change accelerate around the world, this innovation offers a model for decentralized solutions that could redraw the map of water security in the most vulnerable regions.