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About the Episode:

We often talk here about renewable energy. But how often have you thought about renewable water?  Is it even a thing? And, what if we could manufacture clean water, from the air?

Did you know, the EPA reports that 45% of U.S. tap water is toxic!?! 

And, while an estimated 3 billion people globally currently face water stress, that number is projected to increase to 5.2 billion by 2050! 

This situation underscores the interconnectedness of the climate and water crises, emphasizing the vital “energy-water nexus” and the urgent need for solutions to ensure both water availability and purity.

Alexander von Welczek founded SkyH2O to address these water challenges through atmospheric water generation (AWG). As a seasoned climate tech & solar finance entrepreneur, von Welczek's journey in the water sector began around 2015, motivated by California's severe droughts. And, when he partnered with UC Berkeley scientists shortly after, SkyH2O's ambitious vision of large-scale AWG systems became a reality. Von Welczek and the Berkeley team engineered a system capable of producing 10,000-100,000 gallons of water per day, which is particularly well oriented to solving commercial and industrial water needs. His insights into the global water crisis offer a deep dive into the potential and challenges associated with AWG, a technology that holds massive potential to relieve global water stress as it literally generates water directly from the air without relying on existing water bodies. 

I’ve known Alex since his early days in Solar, and have been watching as he incubated SkyH2O from it’s earliest ideation.  So I’m honored to finally feature Alex here on SunCast.  SkyH2O's approach to AWG offers a scalable solution to water stress and toxicity. Von Welczek's motto, "no excuses, let's make it happen," embodies the spirit of this mission, inspiring a call to action for sustainable, global water management. Such pioneering work in climate tech offers a path forward in securing a more sustainable world for generations to come.

This discussion reveals the importance of innovative approaches in climate tech, highlighting SkyH2O's role in addressing the critical need for clean, accessible water and showcasing how visionary solutions can lead to a more sustainable future.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Alexander von Welczeck:

• LinkedIn

Check out SkyH2O:

• Website | LinkedIn

Resources & Articles:

• UCI Water-Energy Nexus Center - UCI Office of Research
• CEO Today Global Awards 2024 - Alexander von Welczeck (ceotodaymagazine.com)
• Tap water study detects PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ across the US | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)
• Water crisis threatens $58 trillion in economic value, food security and sustainability | Press Releases | WWF (worldwildlife.org)
• WHO Drinking water facts
• Our World in Data: Diarhea kills more kids than all “intentional injuries” combined, and it’s totally preventable
• UN - Water – at the center of the climate crisis
• Future Wars will be fought over water - Sky News
• TROUBLED WATERS: POPULATION GROWTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE
• THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS A WATER CRISIS
• TEXAS WATER IS BROKEN
• REGIONS ACROSS AMERICA IN DANGER OF RUNNING OUT OF GROUNDWATER
• AI MAGAZINE Sept 2023 | The Voice of Modern Business
• HERE'S WHERE WATER IS RUNNING OUT IN THE WORLD - AND WHY
• WATER POLLUTION "TIMEBOMB" THREATENS GLOBAL HEALTH
• HALF OF US AMERICAN TAP WATER CONTAINS TOXIC PFAS
• 5 BILLION PEOPLE TO FACE WATER SCARCITY BY 2050
• THE CLIMATE CRISES IS A WATER CRISES
• EWG's Tap Water Database - 2021 UPDATE

Key Takeaways:

1. Water Quality and Scarcity as Dual Challenges: Water stress encompasses not only scarcity but also toxicity, a growing concern even in developed nations. Alexander von Welczek emphasizes that 45% of tap water in the U.S. has been found toxic, illustrating the severity of water quality issues right here in the developed world.
2. Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) is ready for primetime: AWG can provide a solution to water stress. By filtering, compressing, and cooling air to extract water, AWG presents an innovative method to produce fresh, potable water, now.
3. We need AWG at scale: Differentiating from other AWG companies, SkyH2O focuses on developing large-scale systems capable of producing 10,000 to 100,000 gallons of water per day. This positions SkyH2O uniquely in the market, targeting commercial and industrial needs rather than smaller, appliance-scale solutions. The water produced is highly purified, making it suitable for diverse uses, including potable water and industrial processes.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“Currently, it’s estimated that there’s about 3 billion people worldwide living in water stress. And it’s expected that that number is going to increase to about 5.2 billion people by 2050.”

— Alexander von Welczeck

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ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.

Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.

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