Water technology company OceanWell has signed a memorandum of understanding with Eau d’Azur, the public utility responsible for water and sanitation services across the Nice Metropolis, to test a subsea freshwater harvesting system off the French coast.
The agreement marks OceanWell’s first deployment of its subsea water farm technology in Europe and reflects growing interest among coastal regions in diversifying water supplies in response to climate pressure.
Testing deep-sea freshwater production
The pilot project will evaluate OceanWell’s modular subsea water farm units, which operate at depths exceeding 400 metres. The system uses natural ocean pressure to power reverse osmosis, reducing the external energy required to convert seawater into freshwater.
Each modular pod is designed to produce up to 4,000 cubic metres of freshwater per day. By operating at depth, the approach aims to lower energy demand and minimise the discharge of concentrated brine compared to conventional surface desalination plants.
The partners say the technology could offer a climate-resilient option for coastal communities facing increasing water stress.
Environmental monitoring and impact assessment
The first deployment is expected to run for approximately 12 months beginning in 2026. During this period, the project will include environmental impact assessments, marine ecosystem monitoring and site-specific engineering studies.
The findings will be used to inform the design of a potential Mediterranean demonstrator and assess the feasibility of a commercial deployment between 2028 and 2030.
Eau d’Azur said the collaboration would help explore new approaches to securing long-term water supplies for the region as climate pressures increase.
Expanding beyond North America
The French pilot builds on OceanWell’s existing work in North America, including the development of a subsea water farm in California’s Santa Monica Bay in collaboration with multiple regional water agencies.
The company has established a European base in Nice, OceanWell France SAS, supported by the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur’s Business Landing programme. Local partners identified the technology as a potential fit for the region’s blue economy and water resilience priorities.
As water scarcity intensifies across many coastal regions, subsea freshwater harvesting is increasingly being explored as a complement to traditional supply sources, offering the potential to reduce pressure on rivers, aquifers and surface desalination infrastructure.
