Can you extract drinking water straight out of thin air? Navkaran Singh Bagga has been doing it for nine years as Founder & CEO of AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems (akvosphere.com). Today, AKVO’s atmospheric water generators operate in 16 countries, with roughly 90% of machine sales coming from international markets.
Unlike typical climate tech founders, Bagga doesn’t rely on emotional pitches or sob stories. He views clean technology through a pragmatic lens: if it isn’t economical, the market won’t adopt it.
Key Takeaways from the Interview
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How It Works: AKVO’s technology mimics natural condensation—using standard refrigeration components (compressors, fans, and coils) to harvest water vapor from atmospheric humidity, followed by multi-stage filtration including activated carbon to ensure safety even in polluted air.
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The Cost Equation: Producing water from air costs between Rs 2.50 to Rs 5.00 per litre (depending on humidity and electricity rates). Compare that to packaged water served at restaurants for Rs 100 a litre.
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The Business Model: While retail consumer adoption proved slow, enterprise demand is surging. Through its Water On Want (WOW) model, AKVO installs the machines on-site with zero upfront capital cost for businesses—clients simply pay per litre consumed.
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No Subsidies Needed: Bagga firmly believes market forces, not government subsidies, dictate whether technology survives. If a solution needs subsidies to make commercial sense, it isn’t ready.
“Green without being economical makes no sense. You can be the world’s greenest solution—if you don’t make commercial sense, nobody cares.” — Navkaran Singh Bagga
Watch the Full Interview
Check out the complete conversation on YouTube or on their website to learn more about decentralized water utilities and climate tech entrepreneurship:
