Multi-stage power-to-water battery synergizes flexible energy storage and efficient atmospheric water harvesting

Haosheng Lin; Yan Song; Zhixiong Ding; Yunren Sui; Zengguang Sui; Fuxiang Li; Jia Zhu; Wei Wu

doi:10.1038/s41467-025-66053-8

Multi-stage power-to-water battery synergizes flexible energy storage and efficient atmospheric water harvesting

Haosheng Lin (Co-first Author), Yan Song (Co-first Author), Zhixiong Ding, Yunren Sui, Zengguang Sui, Fuxiang Li, Jia Zhu^*, Wei Wu^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

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Abstract

We propose and demonstrate a multi-stage power-to-water (MSP2W) battery that synergizes flexible energy storage and atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) to address renewable energy intermittency and freshwater scarcity simultaneously. This system integrates high-temperature magnesium oxide-based thermal energy storage (TES) with a modular multi-stage AWH device, using a Reline-based ternary solution to enhance sorption kinetics and enable efficient scalability. The multi-stage AWH configuration, with up to three stages, enhances water production by 51%, reducing energy consumption by 26%, consistent with theoretical analysis. The MSP2W prototype achieves daily water production of 3060 g, fully meeting an adult’s demand. The specific energy consumption is as low as 1.13 kWh kg^-‍1, outperforming existing active AWH systems. The niche area of MSP2W is identified, even competing with desalination costs (<20 USD ton^-1 of optimal levelized cost of water). The system demonstrates scalability and cost-effectiveness, with the potential to fully mitigate water scarcity in regions with high renewable energy surpluses. © The Author(s) 2025.

Original language	English
Article number	11098
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	16
Online published	12 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66053-8
Publication status	Published - 2025

Funding

This work is jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52322812 to W.W., 52476019 to W.W., 52573247 to Y. Song, 52525202 to J.Z., 52461160296 to J.Z.), the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (No. JCYJ20230807114905012 to W.W.), the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (No. CityU 11218922 to W.W.), the Environment and Conservation Fund of Hong Kong (No. 76/2022 to W.W.), National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2024YFF0506000 to J.Z.), and GeoX’ Interdisciplinary Project of Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling (No. 20250107 to Y. Song). J.Z. has been supported by the Meituan Green Tech Fund. The authors acknowledge the microfabrication center at the National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures (NLSSM) for technical support. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material/event do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Environment and Conservation Fund.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

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This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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title = "Multi-stage power-to-water battery synergizes flexible energy storage and efficient atmospheric water harvesting",

abstract = "We propose and demonstrate a multi-stage power-to-water (MSP2W) battery that synergizes flexible energy storage and atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) to address renewable energy intermittency and freshwater scarcity simultaneously. This system integrates high-temperature magnesium oxide-based thermal energy storage (TES) with a modular multi-stage AWH device, using a Reline-based ternary solution to enhance sorption kinetics and enable efficient scalability. The multi-stage AWH configuration, with up to three stages, enhances water production by 51%, reducing energy consumption by 26%, consistent with theoretical analysis. The MSP2W prototype achieves daily water production of 3060 g, fully meeting an adult{\textquoteright}s demand. The specific energy consumption is as low as 1.13 kWh kg-‍1, outperforming existing active AWH systems. The niche area of MSP2W is identified, even competing with desalination costs (<20 USD ton-1 of optimal levelized cost of water). The system demonstrates scalability and cost-effectiveness, with the potential to fully mitigate water scarcity in regions with high renewable energy surpluses. {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

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journal = "Nature Communications",

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T1 - Multi-stage power-to-water battery synergizes flexible energy storage and efficient atmospheric water harvesting

AU - Lin, Haosheng

AU - Song, Yan

AU - Ding, Zhixiong

AU - Sui, Yunren

AU - Sui, Zengguang

AU - Li, Fuxiang

AU - Zhu, Jia

AU - Wu, Wei

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - We propose and demonstrate a multi-stage power-to-water (MSP2W) battery that synergizes flexible energy storage and atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) to address renewable energy intermittency and freshwater scarcity simultaneously. This system integrates high-temperature magnesium oxide-based thermal energy storage (TES) with a modular multi-stage AWH device, using a Reline-based ternary solution to enhance sorption kinetics and enable efficient scalability. The multi-stage AWH configuration, with up to three stages, enhances water production by 51%, reducing energy consumption by 26%, consistent with theoretical analysis. The MSP2W prototype achieves daily water production of 3060 g, fully meeting an adult’s demand. The specific energy consumption is as low as 1.13 kWh kg-‍1, outperforming existing active AWH systems. The niche area of MSP2W is identified, even competing with desalination costs (<20 USD ton-1 of optimal levelized cost of water). The system demonstrates scalability and cost-effectiveness, with the potential to fully mitigate water scarcity in regions with high renewable energy surpluses. © The Author(s) 2025.

AB - We propose and demonstrate a multi-stage power-to-water (MSP2W) battery that synergizes flexible energy storage and atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) to address renewable energy intermittency and freshwater scarcity simultaneously. This system integrates high-temperature magnesium oxide-based thermal energy storage (TES) with a modular multi-stage AWH device, using a Reline-based ternary solution to enhance sorption kinetics and enable efficient scalability. The multi-stage AWH configuration, with up to three stages, enhances water production by 51%, reducing energy consumption by 26%, consistent with theoretical analysis. The MSP2W prototype achieves daily water production of 3060 g, fully meeting an adult’s demand. The specific energy consumption is as low as 1.13 kWh kg-‍1, outperforming existing active AWH systems. The niche area of MSP2W is identified, even competing with desalination costs (<20 USD ton-1 of optimal levelized cost of water). The system demonstrates scalability and cost-effectiveness, with the potential to fully mitigate water scarcity in regions with high renewable energy surpluses. © The Author(s) 2025.

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DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-66053-8

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

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SN - 2041-1723

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JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

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ER -

Multi-stage power-to-water battery synergizes flexible energy storage and efficient atmospheric water harvesting

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Funding

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ECF: Environment and Conservation Fund - Versatile PV Technology Using Super-hygroscopic Hydrogel Membrane for Synergetic Power Generation, Water Harvesting, and Dehumidification in Hong Kong

GRF: Membrane-based Moisture Desorption-Absorption with Carbon Quantum Dot-enhanced Ionic Liquid for High-flux Passive PV Cooling and Water Harvesting

Cite this

Multi-stage power-to-water battery synergizes flexible energy storage and efficient atmospheric water harvesting

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

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Projects

ECF: Environment and Conservation Fund - Versatile PV Technology Using Super-hygroscopic Hydrogel Membrane for Synergetic Power Generation, Water Harvesting, and Dehumidification in Hong Kong

GRF: Membrane-based Moisture Desorption-Absorption with Carbon Quantum Dot-enhanced Ionic Liquid for High-flux Passive PV Cooling and Water Harvesting

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