Introducing Watly: An innovative device with the power to change lives

Posted on Aug 1, 2016

Marco Attisani is the mastermind behind Italian startup Watly. Created in 2013, the CEO and his team of engineers are taking up the challenge of providing access to clean water, electricity and Wi-Fi to Africa’s local population.

Watly is a 40 meter long cylindrical “super computer” covered with solar panels. The sun’s energy is transferred to a 140 kilowatt-hour battery, which in turn triggers a purification mechanism providing clean drinking water. Solar power is also used to provide reliable access to Wi-Fi.

Watly will be made available in rural villages in Ghana, Sudan and Nigeria. It’s likely that more countries will benefit from this new technology as currently 1.2 billion people in Africa lack clean drinking water. Marco Attisani has already taken important steps in tackling this challenge. Indeed, each device will meet the needs of 3 000 individuals and have a lifespan of 15 years. Currently worth $400,000, plans are underway to reduce costs.

The project was financed in part by the European Union’s “Horizon 2020” program and crowdfunded on Indiegogo. The money earned will be used for its development which is in the finishing stages. Installations are set to arrive on the continent shortly after its unveiling in Barcelona in November 2016.

N.B.