Who we are

At WattAir, we turn the world’s biggest challenge — the link between water and energy — into opportunity. Our technology captures moisture from air and uses low-grade heat to deliver clean water and efficient cooling anywhere.

From farms to data centers, we help customers cut energy use, secure water, and build resilience. WattAir is redefining how water and energy work together — for a sustainable, circular future.

Every Drop Does Double Duty

We turn waste heat and ambient humidity into reliable water + better cooling efficiency—more value from the same energy.
Radical Clarity

We build trust with transparent performance data, honest timelines, and clear accountability—especially when it’s uncomfortable.
Built to Endure

Designed for real deployments: harsh climates, imperfect maintenance, nonstop operation—robust, serviceable, and dependable.
Scale Through Partnership

We move faster by building with customers and partners—field feedback, cross-disciplinary teamwork, and shared execution that turns pilots into deployments.

Meet the Team

Prof. Bachir El Fil

Co-Founder - CSO

Academic Background:

Dr. Joseph P. Mooney

Co-Founder - CEO

Academic Background:

Our Story

WattAir was founded on a simple belief: water and energy are inseparable, and the future depends on managing them together. Across agriculture, industry, and data infrastructure, these resources are increasingly scarce, tightly linked, and often wasted in parallel. Our mission is to turn that shared challenge into a shared opportunity.

We focus on bridging clean water access and efficient energy use through thoughtful design and deep scientific insight. Guided by the principle that every unit of energy and water should do more than one job, WattAir works at the intersection of sustainability, resilience, and real-world impact.

Our vision is a world where communities and industries can meet essential water and cooling needs using the resources already around them. By rethinking how systems are designed and deployed, we aim to make water–energy resilience practical, scalable, and accessible.

WattAir stands for innovation with purpose—building solutions that help water and energy work together to support people, progress, and the planet.

Photo Credit: Crude Media

Mentors

- Brings 30+ years of experience in energy markets, infrastructure development, and cleantech commercialization, with leadership roles spanning startups, utilities, and Fortune 500 firms.
- Co-founded multiple successful startups, including Merit Sustainable Infrastructure, and led over 4,000 MW of solar and wind projects nationwide, totaling ~$4B in capital deployment.
- Former VP of Project Development at First Solar and a key contributor to ERCOT and energy policy implementation in regulated and competitive markets.
- Currently leads cleantech startup formation and ecosystem growth at Georgia Tech, where he launched ATL Cleantech Connect to catalyze partnerships, funding, and innovation in the Southeast.
- Entrepreneur and startup leader with 20+ years of experience, including 5+ years as a C-level executive and co-founder at MIT spinout C2Sense.
- Deep expertise in commercializing interdisciplinary technologies spanning chemistry, materials, engineering, and data science, backed by 14 publications and 8 patents.
- Passionate team builder and mentor, known for empowering leadership and creating high-performing, people-first startup cultures.
- Actively contributes to the Boston innovation ecosystem through advising founders, judging startup competitions, and bridging startups with established businesses
- Award-winning engineer and entrepreneur recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 and JCI Top Outstanding Young Person, with deep expertise in mechanical, energy, and biomedical engineering.
- Founder and CEO of The Rapid Foundation, enabling global access to 3D printing and advanced technologies for education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship in underserved communities.
- Leads cutting-edge research at UCD in energy systems, additive manufacturing, and inclusive design, with a focus on innovation policy, medical devices, and social impact applications.
- Passionate advocate for accessible innovation, combining technical expertise with a strong track record in consulting, public engagement, and international development.

“This technology could save mine and many other businesses, it’s amazing!”

-John (Farm Manager)

“Our agriculture is more than an industry, it is heritage and identity passed down for generations. Yet three years of falling yields and scarce rainfall have made survival uncertain. WattAir’s technology offers a precious opportunity: to capture and reuse the rare humidity and turn it into water to sustain our farm. Partnering with WattAir is not just about science and technology, it is about preserving a way of life.”

- Mihalis

Recent News

Our CEO, Joseph Mooney, has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2026 in Energy & Green Tech.

Forbes received over 10,000 nominations for this year’s list, and Joseph’s selection recognizes both his leadership and WattAir’s mission to deliver sustainable water and cooling for people and industries under climate stress.

We’re honored to see our work recognized on a global stage,and we’re just getting started

12/2/2025

Turning Air into Water:

CEO of WattAir shared his views on water sources, the Middle East, and the future, with Fanack Water

10/01/2025

WattAir is a finalist at Climate Week NYC! We’re pitching our vision to build a sustainable water and cooling system on Governors Island, showing how innovation can shape a more resilient future!

9/16/2025

WattAir Founders supported a winning Georgia Insitute of Technology Final Year Capstone research Group, “The Desicats”. Their work dove into the aspects of dessicant dehumidification and the impacts on energy efficiency. Congrats Desicats!!

7/29/2025

We’re proud to share that WattAir has joined the ATDC portfolio, Georgia’s leading technology incubator helping founders build, scale, and succeed!

8/26/2025

Published News / Articles

Atacama sunshine helps to pull water from thin air

-nature highlights

Atmospheric water harvesting: Optimization of a hygroscopic hydrogel device improves efficiency

-Tech Xplore

Harvesting Drinking Water From Air With Innovative Absorbent Fins

-Sci Tech Daily

Star Wars-style ‘Vaporator’ could address water scarcity in the driest parts of the world

-C&EN

This material makes drinking water in the desert - here's how

-World Economic Forum

WattAir at the Third Annual International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Summit

WattAir participated in the Third Annual International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Summit (Jan 15–16, 2026) at Arizona State University in Tempe. Co-founder and CSO Bachir El Fil served on the steering committee and delivered two talks: Approaching the Thermodynamic Limit in Sorbent-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting through Dielectric Heating and Clean Water Recovery Using Sorbent-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting Systems in Poor Air Quality Environments. CEO Joseph Mooney also attended and presented WattAir: Atmospheric Water and Cooling for Anyone, Anywhere, highlighting WattAir’s mission to deliver decentralized water and cooling.

1/15/2026