Wave energy developer Exowave has unveiled a modular desalination system that combines offshore wave energy converters with conventional reverse osmosis technology, aiming to deliver zero-emission freshwater production for coastal communities, islands and industries.
The Danish company’s new ExoMare™ system has been designed specifically for smaller desalination applications producing between 4 and 20 cubic metres of freshwater per day – a market often underserved by conventional desalination technologies.
Powered entirely by wave energy, the plug-and-play solution eliminates the need for diesel generators or grid electricity during operation while using proven reverse osmosis technology to produce drinking water.
Addressing growing freshwater challenges
Freshwater scarcity continues to affect communities across the world as climate change, population growth and increasing industrial demand place mounting pressure on existing water resources.
Coastal communities, island populations, aquaculture operators and remote industrial sites often face additional challenges due to limited infrastructure and the high cost of transporting water or generating electricity.
While large-scale desalination plants have become an important source of potable water in many regions, smaller installations frequently depend on diesel-powered generators or expensive grid connections. This increases both operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Exowave believes its latest solution offers an alternative by integrating renewable wave energy directly with desalination technology, enabling decentralised freshwater production without reliance on fossil fuels.
Wave-powered reverse osmosis
The ExoMare system combines one or more offshore wave energy converters with a conventional onshore reverse osmosis plant.
Unlike many wave energy projects that target utility-scale electricity generation, Exowave has designed its technology for deployment in relatively shallow nearshore waters of around three metres deep.
According to the company, this significantly reduces installation complexity, maintenance requirements and infrastructure costs while maintaining high operational performance.
The modular design enables customers to increase freshwater production by adding additional wave energy converters as demand grows.
Potential users include municipalities, island communities, tourism facilities, aquaculture operations, remote industrial sites and emergency water supply projects where reliable freshwater production can be difficult or expensive to achieve.
Lower operating costs and emissions
Exowave says the system can achieve a levelised cost of water from €1.50 per cubic metre while operating entirely on renewable wave energy.
Because the technology requires no fossil fuels during normal operation, the company says it produces zero operational greenhouse gas emissions and generates no operational noise, reducing impacts on surrounding communities and marine environments.
The company also states that its wave energy platform has been designed to achieve a capacity factor of up to 90%, supporting reliable freshwater production throughout the year.
Manufacturing is carried out entirely within the European Union using a European supply chain, while the equipment has been engineered using circular design principles intended to maximise service life and simplify maintenance in demanding marine environments.
Supporting resilient water infrastructure
Decentralised desalination is attracting increasing attention as utilities and governments seek to improve resilience against drought, extreme weather and ageing infrastructure.
Rather than relying solely on large centralised treatment facilities, smaller distributed systems can provide local freshwater production closer to the point of demand. This reduces dependence on vulnerable infrastructure networks and improves water security for isolated coastal communities.
Wave-powered desalination could prove particularly attractive in locations where wave resources remain consistent throughout the year and where access to reliable electricity is limited or expensive.
The approach also complements wider efforts to decarbonise water treatment by pairing established desalination technologies with renewable energy sources.
Company perspective
Commenting on the launch, Lars Wigant, CEO and co-founder of Exowave, said:
“ExoMare demonstrates that clean water and clean energy can be delivered as one integrated solution. By combining proven reverse osmosis technology with our nearshore second-generation wave energy technology platform, we are making zero-emission desalination economically viable for applications that have traditionally been overlooked by the market.”
The launch represents the latest milestone in Exowave’s strategy to commercialise wave energy technologies that address both water security and renewable energy challenges through practical infrastructure solutions.
