Global potential of continuous sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) offers a decentralized solution for freshwater generation in remote and arid regions. Continuous SAWH systems, with their compact design and energy efficiency, present advantages over discontinuous systems for kilogram-scale water supply. Using global meteorological data and advanced modeling, we evaluated the performance of passive and active continuous systems, incorporating the isothermal and dynamic properties of twelve advanced sorbents, such as hydrogels, metal-organic frameworks, and composites. Results show that solar-powered continuous SAWH systems can operate effectively year-round in 39.53% of global districts, while active systems enable low-energy harvesting in 55.27% of districts. Temperature and humidity significantly influence performance, with correlations of 47.41% and 86.41%, respectively, surpassing the impact of atmospheric pressure and solar radiation. This study provides a predictive framework for global SAWH performance, offering design insights to optimize system efficiency and guide sorbent development for broader applications.