Ocean Oasis lands €6 million to transform ocean waves into fresh drinking water

Ocean Oasis, a trailblazing cleantech company from Norway, has secured a significant €6 million grant from the European Union, propelling its groundbreaking wave-powered desalination technology forward. This considerable funding injection will facilitate the creation and deployment of the world's first fleet of offshore desalination buoys, specifically designed to combat water shortages on Gran Canaria, a Spanish island grappling with this issue.

The grant, provided by the European Executive Agency on Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment (CINEA) as part of the Circular Economy and Quality of Life Programme, is a crucial step for Ocean Oasis in its quest to deliver sustainable freshwater solutions. Dubbed DESALIFE (Desalination for Environmental Sustainability and LIFE), the project will harness the powerful waves off Gran Canaria's coast to transform seawater into drinking water, potentially supporting up to 15,000 residents.

The Canary Islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa, have faced persistent water scarcity for years. With local water resources dwindling, the islands have increasingly turned to desalination, but traditional methods carry significant drawbacks, such as high energy consumption, carbon emissions, and harmful brine discharge. Ocean Oasis' innovative wave-powered system provides a zero-emission solution, delivering much-needed freshwater without exacerbating energy demands or harming the environment.

Kristine Bangstad Fredriksen, CEO and Co-founder of Ocean Oasis, expressed her enthusiasm for the project. She stated, "At Ocean Oasis, we believe that renewable energy, particularly wave power, holds the key to a future where clean water is 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 grant from the EU will finance the construction and deployment of floating desalination buoys, set to be tested in the deep waters off the northern coast of Gran Canaria. This site was strategically selected due to its ideal wave conditions and proximity to existing desalination facilities, ensuring seamless integration of the offshore freshwater production into the island's water supply network.

The project brings together a consortium of prominent 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) from the Universidad of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), and electoral, a consultancy firm 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."

With its first pre-commercial buoys expected to be operational by mid-2026, the DESALIFE project is poised to scale this technology across other islands in the archipelago and beyond. Should it prove successful, this innovative solution could serve as a model for tackling water scarcity in coastal and island communities worldwide, all while reducing environmental harm and championing renewable energy.