PROJECT TULIPE · SOUTH REGION

TULIPE Project: a mobile and autonomous air water generator of 500 liters per day

At the beginning of 2024, AirDrink designed a unique demonstrator: producing fresh, pure, and mineralized water for human consumption almost anywhere, in a way that is sustainable and economical. mobile, autonomous in energy and without drawing on the groundwater aquifers.

Presented in partnership with the Southern Region, the project was tested in Bormes-les-Mimosas in the summer of 2024.

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500 L

1 liter of water per day (at 30 °C and 80 % % humidity)

7,700 Wc

14 solar panels of 550 Wc

600 L

of a water tank

25 kWh

from LiFePO4 batteries, up to 15 hours of production

Solar panels from the TULIPE demonstrator

A 100 % solar demonstrator

The 14 solar panels They open and close at a distance. They power the generator and 5 lithium LiFePO4 batteries (25 kWh), which allow it to produce water for up to 15 hours in a row during a sunny day.

The water generator and the energy produced are monitored remotely through a monitoring system.

Air is an infinite resource: with a photovoltaic system, you can produce water at will and at low cost. Discover our technology

The objectives of the project

Providing access to clean water

Provide quality, low-cost drinking water in places where there is no access to water or energy.

Demonstrating that it is possible

Proving that we can provide pure water almost everywhere, without drawing anything from the aquifers that dry up in the summer.

Making the solution known

In France, air water generators are still little known: AirDrink is presenting them to the general public with the Southern Region.

Preparing the Overseas Territories

In the DOM-TOM, the warm and humid climate is ideal: this system could produce high-quality water in quantity with almost free green energy.

The project in video

The presentation of the TULIPE project on BFMTV.

The TULIPE demonstrator is in operation.

The demonstrator in pictures

Assembly of the TULIPE demonstrator structure

They are talking about it in the press...

My Southern Region: the 1st mobile and autonomous atmospheric water generator is here
Made in Marseille: a mobile atmospheric water generator will travel throughout the region
Press Agency: Or Bleu Plan 2024, the 1st mobile atmospheric water generator in the South Region

Frequently asked questions about the TULIPE project

Why is this solution called «Project Tulipe»?

The solar panels unfold and fold up with a remote control, like a flower that opens and closes its petals. That is why the Southern Region has named this innovative project «Tulip Project».

What is the purpose of this demonstrator?

Showing that water can be produced from the humidity of the air almost anywhere, thanks to modern technologies and decarbonized energy: all it takes is a little sunshine and a minimum of humidity. Making this type of solution available to municipalities experiencing water stress in the summer can be part of the solution.

Why is this type of solution little known in France?

State agencies are moving very slowly on this issue, although they are not a hindrance. However, in some regions such as Mayotte, these solutions are beginning to develop, as the situation with drinking water is serious there.

Can this project still be improved?

Yes, like any demonstrator, and ideas are welcome. For example, it could be powered with solid hydrogen and fuel cells. Atmospheric water generators are also progressing: some new models even work in the middle of the desert, like those from'Atoco, founded by the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate.

What are the possible uses?

Beyond access to water for populations under water stress, especially in the DOM-TOM: producing water in isolated areas, filling fire tanks in forests, cleaning up roads without drawing from groundwater, providing water to areas subject to prefectural restrictions, or supplementing the water in swimming pools that evaporates.

Is the manufacturing cost high?

This is a demonstrator manufactured individually upon request. By producing in series and optimizing the manufacturing process, significant economies of scale can be achieved, especially since the price of solar panels is falling rapidly.

A project for your municipality or territory?

Would you like to learn more or present your project to us? Let's talk about it.