Eole Water: Making water from air with Victron Energy

An atmospheric water generator (AWG), is a device that extracts water from humid ambient air. Victron Energy are delighted that Eole Water of France have chosen our products to assist in this process of making water from air, particularly in locations where other sources of water are scarce.

How does it work?

The NERIOS.S3 – A self consumption machine

The NERIOS.S3 EVO version primarily uses standalone PV to power it. The minimum installed solar power required for self-sufficiency is 5.1kWp. Other models can also use wind power.

The potable drinking water produced (which is multi stage micro, carbon filtered, UV treated and mineralised) can range from 0.5l/h to 13.2l/h subject to the power used and the temperature and humidity of the air. The water tank capacity is 1,000 litres.

The EVO has three operating modes:

1. Primary operating mode: smart standalone machine
   The machine only works with solar energy from photovoltaic panels.
   Following the curve of the sun (MPPT) during the day, solar photovoltaic energy feeds a variable speed cooling system that converts and stores this energy in an ice accumulator. During the night, a period which is cooler and damper, cold stored in the accumulator cools the outside air, which has been sucked in, down to its dew point, causing condensation and the formation of water.
2. Secondary operating mode: smart switchable machine
   If a regular connection to the grid is possible, the electrical grid is used to stabilise the energy coming from the solar panels during the day (stored in the ice accumulator) and supply the energy needed at night to regulate the system. It is also possible to switch and run with only solar energy during the day and the grid during the night. In the event of an extended period without sun, the machine can be powered directly from the grid.
3. Emergency Mode: ever ready machine
   In the event of a lack of water during a period without sun and without the grid, the machine can be powered by a backup generator.

Victron inside and out

Depending on the model, Eole Water use a range of Victron Energy products inside and out in their automatic water generators:

• Autotransformers
• Multiplus inverter/chargers
• Lithium batteries (with cell balancing and Battery Management Systems[BMS])
• BMV-700 Series battery monitors
• Color Control GX (for both on & off site control and monitoring)
• Solar Charge Controllers
• BlueSolar Panels
• VRM (Victron Remote Management) Portal – Try the demo

Conclusion & Credits

Apparently today there are 150 million people worldwide who live in remote areas without any access to safe drinking water. Eole Water’s mission, using Victron Energy’s products to facilitate this, is to provide these isolated communities with potable drinking water. A laudable ambition indeed and one which we are delighted to be associated with.

Many thanks to Eole Water of France and Jacques Noël of Victron Energy for making us aware of such an interesting project, and supplying us with the images.

For further information on projects such as that shown above and below, please contact Eole Water SAS:

John Rushworth