Ocean Oasis, a pioneering Norwegian cleantech company secured a €6 million grant from the European Union to advance its innovative wave-powered desalination technology. This substantial funding will support the development and deployment of the first fleet of offshore desalination buoys aimed at addressing water scarcity on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria.
The €6 million grant, awarded by the European Executive Agency on Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA) under the Circular Economy and Quality of Life Programme, marks a critical milestone in Ocean Oasis’ mission to provide sustainable freshwater solutions. The project, named DESALIFE (Desalination for Environmental Sustainability and LIFE), will harness the abundant wave power off the coast of Gran Canaria to convert seawater into potable water, benefiting up to 15,000 people in the region.
The Canary Islands, situated off the west coast of Africa, have long grappled with water scarcity. With local water resources under pressure, the islands have increasingly relied on desalination. However, traditional desalination methods often come with high energy costs, carbon emissions, and environmental concerns such as brine discharge. Ocean Oasis’ wave-powered technology offers a zero-emission alternative, producing freshwater without increasing energy consumption or environmental impact.
Kristine Bangstad Fredriksen, CEO and Co-founder of Ocean Oasis, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “At Ocean Oasis, we believe that renewable energy, particularly wave power, holds the key to a future where clean water is both accessible and abundant. The DESALIFE project represents a significant step forward in demonstrating our technology’s potential, not just for the Canary Islands, but for coastal communities worldwide.”
The €6 million EU grant will fund the construction and deployment of floating desalination buoys, which will be tested in deep waters off Gran Canaria’s north coast. This location was chosen for its favorable wave conditions and its proximity to existing desalination facilities, which will integrate the offshore freshwater production into the island’s water supply.
The project involves a consortium of key partners, including the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC), The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), the Group for the Research on Renewable Energy Systems (GRRES) of the Universidad of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), and elittoral, a consultancy specializing in coastal and oceanographic engineering.
Miguel Hidalgo, vice president of the Gran Canaria Island Water Council, emphasized the strategic importance of the DESALIFE project: “This initiative not only strengthens our commitment to renewable energy but also aligns with our broader goal of transitioning toward a sustainable, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient economy.”
The DESALIFE project aims to have its first pre-commercial buoys operational by mid-2026, paving the way for scaling the technology to other islands in the archipelago and beyond. If successful, this pioneering approach could provide a blueprint for addressing water scarcity in coastal and island communities globally, all while minimizing environmental impact and promoting renewable energy use.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/08/oslo-based-ocean-oasis-secures-e6-million-to-turn-wave-power-into-freshwater/
