Norway pioneers underwater desalination for drinking water

Norway has unveiled what is described as the world's first underwater unit for producing drinking water. Inaugurated in early July at the Mongstad industrial base, the innovation by Flocean aims to tackle the growing global challenge of freshwater scarcity.

Alexander Fuglesang, president and founder of Flocean, highlighted the unit's capabilities, stating, "Our innovation produces one million liters of water per day while reducing the energy consumption of desalination and limiting chemical discharges." The technology is designed to provide a sustainable solution in the face of climate change, which is intensifying droughts worldwide.

Although the produced water is still awaiting validation of its potability by local health authorities, the technology is viewed as a promising response to the water crisis. According to the United Nations, billions of people already live in regions facing water stress. For islands and coastal states lacking freshwater resources, transforming seawater into potable water is often essential.

Experts noted in a 2022 report by the French Institute of International Relations that demand for desalination technologies is now nearly global, with the Middle East accounting for only 50% of installed capacity worldwide. This underscores the increasing reliance on such technologies to meet freshwater needs in diverse geographical contexts.

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Our innovation produces one million liters of water per day while reducing the energy consumption of desalination and limiting chemical discharges.