Watch: Czech Pavilion is ‘making water out of air’ at Expo 2020 Dubai

Dubai: Making water out of air in a desert! Is it even possible?

Yes, says the Czech Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

“Water and its conservation are the main focus of the Czech Pavilion, called the ‘Czech Spring’, said Martin Tlapa, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

The pavilion is situated right at the entrance of the Sustainability District, towards the right, after the security check. It’s rather hard to miss due to its unique facade shaded by 12-metre-tall steel capillaries.

They represent the main highlight of the pavilion, which is the S.A.W.E.R (Solar Air Water Earth Resource) system.

Jiri Frantisek Potuznik, the Czech Pavilion’s Commissioner General, explained to Gulf News: “We would like to announce it as the ‘saver’ system, because it helps save and produce water in areas that have scarce water supply.”

He explained that using solar panels installed on the roof of the pavilion, the S.A.W.E.R system takes moisture from the air and converts it into water. It is then treated with algae and subsurface cultures, to make it fit for irrigation and to cultivate arid soil. Another mechanism turns this water into drinkable water. The pavilion will also display information about portable solutions for extracting water from air.

“Other systems that use condensation for water extraction need a high percentage of humidity in air, mostly up to 80 per cent. The S.A.W.E.R system can make water in the desert, it needs only 20 per cent,” Potuznik added.

A live installation at the entrance to the pavilion shows visitors how it works. But, that’s not all. Czech Republic is known for spa towns, glass-making, crystals and more. The pavilion brings it all to Expo 2020 Dubai.