OceanWell Taps Deep Ocean to Redefine Sustainable Desalination

Water scarcity is rapidly becoming one of the most pressing global challenges, driven by climate change, population growth, and declining freshwater reserves. While desalination has long been seen as part of the solution, conventional systems remain energy-intensive, land-heavy, and environmentally controversial. OceanWell is advancing a new approach that rethinks how and where desalination happens — by moving it offshore and deep beneath the ocean’s surface. 

Rethinking Desalination from the Seafloor Up 

Founded in California, OceanWell has developed a deep-sea, modular desalination system designed to operate hundreds of meters below the ocean surface. Instead of pumping seawater to land and forcing it through membranes using large amounts of electricity, OceanWell leverages natural hydrostatic pressure at depth to drive reverse osmosis. This design reduces the energy required for desalination by up to 40% compared to conventional coastal plants. The result is a system that delivers fresh water more efficiently while avoiding many of the environmental trade-offs that have limited traditional desalination projects. 

Water Farms: Modular, Scalable, and Offshore 

OceanWell’s technology is deployed through subsea units known as Water Farms — modular pods that can be installed offshore and scaled incrementally as demand grows. Each pod is capable of producing millions of gallons of potable water per day, allowing utilities to expand capacity without building large coastal facilities or competing for valuable shoreline land. Because the systems operate offshore, they also reduce visual impact, noise, and land-use conflicts, making them particularly attractive for densely populated or environmentally sensitive coastal regions. 

Designed with Marine Protection in Mind 

Environmental impact has been a central design consideration. OceanWell’s LifeSafe™ intake system minimizes interaction with marine organisms, while brine by-products are released at depth where strong currents enable rapid dilution. By operating below biologically dense surface layers, the system avoids many of the tecological risks associated with near-shore desalination discharges. 

From Pilot Projects to Global Potential 

In California, the company is partnering with regional water agencies on California Water Farm 1, a planned offshore project expected to deliver up to 60 million gallons of freshwater per day by 2030. The initiative reflects growing interest from utilities seeking climate-resilient water supplies that align with long-term sustainability goals 

Learn more about the company’s technology on the Davos Technology Platform.