The $Water Moonshot: XPRIZE Takes on Global Water Scarcity | Salty Water Podcast

The $Water Moonshot: XPRIZE Takes on Global Water Scarcity | Salty Water Podcast What if the next major breakthrough in desalination comes from a global competition designed to spark a technological moonshot?In this episode of the Salty Water Podcast, host Eric Jankel sits down with Lauren Greenlee, Executive Vice President for Food, Water, and Waste at XPRIZE, to explore one of the most ambitious innovation challenges in the water industry today: the global race to reinvent desalination. Backed by the Mohammed Bin Zayed Water Initiative, the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition is challenging innovators around the world to create desalination technologies that are more reliable, affordable, energy-efficient, and sustainable at scale.The discussion explores:Why desalination still remains inaccessible to much of the worldThe hidden barriers preventing wider adoptionWhy incremental innovation may no longer be enoughThe history of major desalination breakthroughsHow XPRIZE structures technology moonshotsThe difference between Track A and Track B teamsWhy cost metrics in innovation competitions are so difficultThe future of membranes, materials, and system-level innovationWhether desalination is approaching another transformational leap forward Eric also connects the competition to historic innovation prizes that changed industries forever, including the Orteig Prize that helped inspire Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight and the original Ansari XPRIZE that helped launch the private space industry. With hundreds of teams from dozens of countries competing, this episode offers a rare inside look at how global innovation ecosystems are being mobilized to tackle one of humanity’s biggest challenges: water scarcity.If you work in desalination, water reuse, infrastructure, climate technology, sustainability, industrial innovation, or water policy, this episode provides important insight into where the industry may be heading next.   🌊 About the Salty Water PodcastThe Salty Water Podcast explores the people, technologies, policies, and global trends shaping the future of desalination, water reuse, and water security.Hosted by Eric Jankel, the show features conversations with engineers, innovators, policymakers, researchers, investors, and industry leaders working at the forefront of global water challenges.🌐 Website: Salty Water Podcasthttps://SaltyWaterPodcast.com 📌 Topics covered in this episode:Desalination • XPRIZE • Water Scarcity • Water Innovation • Reverse Osmosis • Membrane Technology • Water Infrastructure • Sustainability • Climate Technology • Water Security • Energy Recovery • Global Water Crisis • Future of Water • Engineering Innovation • Moonshot Technology#SaltyWaterPodcast #Desalination #WaterScarcity #XPRIZE #WaterInnovation #ClimateTech #WaterSecurity #ReverseOsmosis #Sustainability #Engineering #WaterReuse #Infrastructure #FutureOfWater