Key Takeaways
- Flocean has expanded its Series A round to $22.5 million, adding Xylem Inc. as a new strategic investor.
- Funding will support the launch of Flocean One, the first commercial subsea desalination plant, set to begin operating in 2026.
- The company signed an agreement with Alver Municipality to explore integrating Flocean’s desalinated water into local industrial and municipal systems.
- The company's subsea model cuts capital costs by up to 8x, uses 50% less energy, requires no chemicals, and eliminates coastal land footprint.
- The company is pursuing commercial projects across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and island nations.
Flocean Secures Additional Capital to Scale Subsea Desalination
Flocean, the Norwegian subsea desalination company recently named a TIME Best Invention of 2025, has expanded its Series A funding round to $22.5 million (NOK 228 million). The extension brings in global water technology company Xylem Inc., alongside continued support from Burnt Island Ventures, Freebird Capital, Katapult Ocean, Nysnø Climate Investments and others.
Xylem’s participation strengthens Flocean’s ability to scale its technology internationally, serving rising water demand from municipal, industrial and agricultural users.
Flocean Advances 2026 Launch of First Commercial Subsea Desalination Plant
Proceeds from the extended Series A will fund Flocean One, the world’s first commercial demonstrator of subsea desalination. Scheduled to launch in 2026 at Mongstad Industrial Park, the plant will produce 1,000 cubic meters of freshwater per day. The design is modular, enabling scalability from 5,000 to 50,000 cubic meters daily for coastal regions facing severe water constraints.
Flocean has already operated a test site at Mongstad for the past 12 months.
Subsea Desalination Model Reduces Costs, Energy Use and Environmental Impact
Flocean’s subsea systems operate 400–600 meters below sea level, using natural ocean pressure to drive desalination. According to the company, this approach significantly improves cost, permitting timelines and sustainability metrics compared with conventional land-based plants:
- 7–8x lower capital cost per unit capacity
- 50% lower energy use and emissions
- 95% reduction in coastal land requirements
- No chemical pre-treatment or toxic brine discharge
- 60% less pre-treatment infrastructure needed
“We’re changing the fundamental economics of water,” said Alexander Fuglesang, Founder & CEO of Flocean. “Industries from semiconductors to data centers to mining increasingly need scalable, cost-effective water solutions.”
Xylem Partnership Strengthens Global Scaling Strategy
Snehal Desai, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer at Xylem, highlighted the global need for new water solutions. “Flocean’s subsea desalination technology represents a bold leap forward in how we produce fresh water,” he said.
Flocean will also join the Xylem Innovation Labs Accelerator, gaining access to Xylem’s global networks and expertise.
Signs Agreement with Alver Municipality
Flocean announced a new agreement with Alver Municipality in Norway to explore potential integration of Flocean’s desalinated water into local infrastructure for industrial users and residents.
Mayor Nina Bognøy noted the municipality’s interest in evaluating the company’s technology as part of efforts to expand water resilience.
Flocean Expands Global Project Pipeline
Under its Build-Own-Operate model, Flocean sells water through long-term offtake agreements spanning 15–25 years. The company has active project agreements in multiple regions, including the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
With escalating global water scarcity and constrained conventional desalination capacity, Flocean aims to deploy its subsea systems across more than 90 water-stressed markets worldwide.
