Vesi Water, along with its research partners, have recently developed nanomaterials, which can be used to create air-to-water generators.
The world leading technology can harvest more than 200 litres of water per day from airbourne humidity, which will have a significant impact on rural and regional communities living in water stress.
The Memorandum of Understanding will see Vesi Water work with researchers at UNE to establish a pilot production facility to scale the production of the advanced nanomaterials.
“This MOU is significant, it will allow us to build a pilot facility at UNE to accelerate the commercialisation of our technology, giving us a lab for initial production and ongoing training – creating a legacy of regional high-tech jobs,” says Vesi Water’s Llewellyn Owens.
“This is an Australian technology, and we want to see built here to give regional Australians a sustainable water solution.”
UNE Vice-Chancellor, Brigid Heywood says, “We see great benefit in supporting any technologies that will help drought proof our local communities and we look forward to furthering our partnership with Vesi Water.”
The establishment of a pilot production facility at UNE’s Armidale campus, will further education and training opportunities in high-tech manufacturing processes and water technologies.
“Our collaboration with Vesi Water is a direct example of the innovative opportunities which can be achieved through our recently launched STEM Q program, which fosters regional partnerships based on STEM-related activities,’ says Professor Heywood.
“Piloting the facility at UNE will help to connect industry and investment with research and education. It also paves the way for a larger future facility that will contribute directly to water sustainability and economic growth for our region.”
The pilot production facility will also utilise world class technology from Japan through a partnership with Nisina Materials out of the Yokoyama University. This is the first time such technology has been used outside of Japan.
Vesi Water aims to have its pilot production facility at UNE operational in 2022 and has plans for expanding its production to a full-size facility in 2023-24.
Mr Owens says as well as benefitting Australian communities, the technology could be used on an international scale.
“More than two-billion people globally, do not have access to safe drinking water and this discovery can help to alleviate that.
“As well as its humanitarian impacts, this technology can be used across multiple applications including agriculture, industrial and military.”
Vesi Water is now working to develop its flagship product which will be launched in 2022.
Vesi Water is also a UNE SMART Region Incubator founder.
