Israel-based Watergen is bringing its products, which it claims can convert air into potable water, to the Indian market and has announced a joint venture with Delhi-based SMV Jaipuria Group. The company plans to eventually manufacture and export its Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs) from India, though it did not give details on when that would be possible.
“It’s a 50-50 joint venture. The idea is to help solve this water problem that our country faces. We will partner with every stakeholder necessary,” Chaitanya Jaipuria, Director, SMV Jaipuria Group, said.
AWG works on the lines of air conditioners – by condensing and cooling the air to remove moisture from them, except that the water produced is ready to drink.
The company showcased several of its products at a press conference in Delhi. The AWG range includes the Genny Home, a unit built for homes and offices, the Gen-M1, Gen-M Pro and Gen-L. The capacity of these water generators ranges from 30 litres to 6000 litres per day, depending on the device. Geany Home will start from Rs 2.5 lakh. It is a plug-n-play unit that people install in their homes. Prices for other products will depend on where the team is being positioned.
“The power consumption for Genny Home is not more than 500W or 0.5 units. It is less than what your refrigerator uses,” said Maayan Mulla, CEO of Watergen India.
Watergen’s machines also include a filtration system, which provides for PM2.5 filters, and ultraviolet and ultrafiltration membranes to ensure that the final water is potable. The company claims that its products use food-grade standards and provide additional minerals. It uses its own patented Genius heat exchanger to remove moisture from the air.
But these machines are also dependent on humidity and ambient temperature. The technology requires some moisture in the air – ideally 30 per cent and above – to function optimally. The technology doesn’t work as well in frigid environments.
However, Watergen claims that its products can work even in 20 per cent moisture. Watergen India CEO Mulla said the machines had been tested in India’s various locations and climatic conditions, including areas with very low humidity. The device works perfectly indoors. We have tried our machines in Rajasthan, where the humidity level is shallow throughout the year. Indoors we have no such problem of humidity,” said Mulla.
It is not clear how capably the machines would handle intense pollution, which is a yearly problem in most of North India, especially in the winter season. The products are available for sale in India, and customers can directly contact Watergen to buy the products.