OceanWell: LifeSafe Desalination in the Deep-Sea

Born in California, OceanWell is developing a planet-friendly technology to harvest water molecules from the ocean using reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in a new way. Unlike the heavy industrial RO process typically conducted on land, OceanWell passively extracts freshwater from the deep sea without harming marine life. Its LifeSafe circulation system is gentle on fish and plankton, and effectively eliminates the strong brine discharge and land use requirements that plague coastal operations. OceanWell also uses 30-50% less energy than conventional RO by leveraging the hydrostatic pressure of the deep ocean to drive the RO process. At about 400 meters deep in the aphotic zone—yet elevated above the seabed to prevent benthic disturbance—the dark, high-pressure environment provides a clearer, colder supply of seawater requiring minimal pretreatment and no chemicals. As our technology matures, OceanWell aims to partner with ocean researchers to ensure our operations are not only safe and compliant with regulations, but also good for our planet and her ocean.