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The water vapour in the atmosphere has the potential to fulfil the need for potable water. Solar powered atmospheric water generation system (SPAWG) is an emerging and renewable approach to obtain potable water from atmospheric air. But, the productivity of these systems is limited, which needs improvement. Therefore, a new SPAWG system is proposed in the present study, which consists of desiccant wheel, both ends open evacuated tube solar air heater, and heat exchanger. Initially, a numerical model of the desiccant wheel is developed and the recommended operating parameters are: regeneration temperature range of 80–150 °C, rotational speed of 15 RPH, facial area ratio of 3, and 8 m/s & 2 m/s air velocities at adsorption and regeneration sectors, respectively. A double-ended open evacuated tube solar air heater with the collector area of 9.37 m2 has been used to regenerate desiccant wheel, which produces the hot air up to 155.2 °C at a mass flow rate of 117 m3/h. This results in the regeneration air having a humidity ratio of 53.5 g/kg da with a dew point temperature of 41.5 °C, allowing the available water vapour to be easily condensed by an air cooled heat exchanger. The proposed SPAWG system produces 10.39 L of water throughout the day with thermal efficiency of 10.19 %. The cost of water produced by the system is estimated at 0.2 $/L. [Display omitted] • AWH system integrating desiccant wheel and solar air heater has been proposed. • Hot air up to 150 °C generated using evacuated tube solar air heater. • Air-to-air heat exchanger is used to condense water vapour present in humid air. • This system produced 10.39 L of fresh potable water for a small nuclear family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]