Solaq: Producing Clean Water Directly from Air

Solaq: Producing Clean Water Directly from Air

Water scarcity is becoming an increasingly urgent global challenge as climate change, population growth, and aging infrastructure place growing pressure on freshwater resources. In many regions, communities and industries rely on transported water or overexploited groundwater sources to meet demand. Conventional desalination and purification technologies can provide relief but often require extensive infrastructure, energy input, or access to existing water sources. As a result, new approaches are emerging that aim to generate drinking water directly at the point of use. Solaq, a Dutch cleantech startup based in Amsterdam, develops atmospheric water generation systems designed to produce drinking water directly from ambient air. Unlike conventional cooling condensation systems, the technology uses a liquid-desiccant process that absorbs moisture from air by pulling it into a liquid, which is then distilled using thermal energy to produce pure water. This approach, combined with a modular design that allows the number of absorbers to be scaled up or down, is designed to enable decentralized water production with more predictable output across humid and arid operating environments.

Technology and Product

Solaq’s atmospheric water generation system extracts water vapor from ambient air using a liquid desiccant absorption process. Air is drawn into the system and passed through an absorber where water vapour binds to a hygroscopic liquid. In a second stage, thermal energy separates the water from the liquid through distillation, producing purified water intended for drinking and industrial use. Unlike many air-to-water technologies that rely on energy-intensive cooling systems, Solaq’s process primarily requires heat rather than electricity. This heat can be supplied through solar thermal energy, waste heat, or conventional energy sources, allowing the system to operate in off-grid environments.

Solaq atmospheric water generation system designed to produce drinking water directly from ambient air. (© Solaq)

Industrial Fit and Applications

Decentralised water production technologies are gaining attention as a complement to conventional water infrastructure, particularly in regions facing water scarcity or unreliable supply networks. Atmospheric water generation systems can provide alternative water sources for communities, agriculture, and industrial facilities. Solaq’s technology is designed for applications where reliable water access is critical, including remote settlements, humanitarian projects, and off-grid industrial sites. Because the systems operate independently of pipelines and groundwater extraction, they can reduce reliance on transported water supplies.

Engineering and testing of Solaq’s decentralised air-to-water production systems. (© Solaq)

Founding Team

Solaq was founded by Reuben Moore, who is also the CEO of the company, together with Evert van Voorthuysen and Peter Solleveld. The company emerged from research and engineering work focused on sustainable water production technologies. The founding team combines expertise in engineering, renewable energy systems, and water treatment technologies to develop scalable solutions for decentralised drinking water production.