Auroville’s Blue Gold: Water from Air

Auroville’s drinking water shortage is set to ease through a collaboration with Germany, marked by the installation of Atmosbox, an advanced system that produces clean drinking water directly from the air.

The first Atmosbox unit is being installed at the Auroville Visitors Centre. Using Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) technology, the system extracts potable water from ambient air and can also filter locally available groundwater. Planned upgrades will enable rainwater treatment and purification as well.

The fully containerised unit is powered by a 13 kW solar system with battery storage, allowing uninterrupted, round-the-clock operation without dependence on the power grid. Each unit can generate up to 500 litres of drinking water per day and filter as much as 250 litres per hour from local water sources.

According to a press note, Samuel, a technical lead from Germany, is currently in Auroville overseeing the project. His visit has also strengthened collaboration with STEM Land, a technology hub focused on training rural youth. Highlighting the partnership’s potential, Samuel noted that STEM Land’s strong semiconductor expertise could support future technical upgrades of Atmosbox in India. The collaboration aims to integrate water sustainability, advanced technology, and community skill development.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.