NAWI is a 5-year, $110M research program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, the California State Water Resources Control Board, and numerous industry and academic partners. NAWI is headquartered at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). It was co-founded by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The report synthesizes high priority research needs for innovative and emerging technologies, as well as for existing uses of desalination and advanced water technologies.
New research from NAWI is proposing a suite of tools to aid in evaluating technology platforms, setting system- and component-level research targets and identifying...
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) announced $5 million in federal funding.
By the Numbers
90+
partners
We partner with leading industry, academic, and government stakeholders.
390+
organizations
Our members are innovative thinkers and doers on the leading edge of water treatment technology research.
8+
water research facilities
We have a number of research facilities available to the NAWI community across national labs, universities, and industry.
Our Focus Areas
Process Innovation and Intensification
Materials and Manufacturing
Data, Modeling, and Analysis
Process Innovation and Intensification
This topic area advances two categories of research and development critical to advancing NAWI goals: novel and intensified processes and autonomous and adaptable water systems.
Materials and Manufacturing
This topic area focuses on developing new high-throughput gradient synthesis and computational simulation and screening tools, advancing manufacturing technology and metrology, and characterizing materials performance in operando.
Data, Modeling, and Analysis
This topic area uses analysis and innovative tools to align research across NAWI. It provides an accessible data management system and innovative systems-level analysis and tool development. The data modeling and analysis area also manages an open-source analytical platform to evaluate pipe parity of technologies that are treating non-traditional water sources.
The Water treatment Technoeconomic Assessment Platform (WaterTAP) is an open-source Python-based software package that supports the technoeconomic assessment of full water treatment trains.
This research aims to establish the scientific foundation of electrified processes and research opportunities for highly energy- efficient water treatment and pretreatment.
Water DAMS provides access to foundational water treatment technology data that enable researchers and decision-makers to identify and quantify opportunities for technology innovations to reduce the cost and energy intensity of desalination.
Software developed for this work will permit predictive capabilities that can be used for all of the water applications pursued by NAWI.
Our Partners
50+ and counting, including:
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Member Network
Connect with an extensive community of researchers and scientists in industry, academia, and national labs, as well as stakeholders in Federal, State and local governments, water users, entrepreneurs, investors, advocacy groups and individuals.
Events and Activities
Join in on a range of member-only activities, including webinars, conferences, and more.
Thought Leadership
Develop and share innovative ideas that drive progress and shape the future of water and energy.