Contact us

Projects

10/04/2025 In Projects

Pilot Buoy Project ReWater in Las Palmas

Project ReWater: How we turned waves into fresh water

In November 2022, Ocean Oasis achieved a pivotal milestone with the launch of our ReWater project– our first full-scale prototype for wave-powered desalination. This groundbreaking technology demonstrated our vision: harnessing ocean waves to produce fresh water with zero emissions.

Tested at the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), ReWater benefited from excellent wave conditions and commitment to sustainable solutions.

Following successful testing, we’re now developing a commercial fleet of wave-powered desalination units that will connect directly to water distribution systems.

Through ReWater, we proved that waves can become water – establishing a technology foundation that powers our mission to transform coastal water security worldwide.

Technical innovation

Standing 10 metres tall, 7 metres in diameter, ReWater represented a remarkable technological achievement. The prototype harnesses wave energy through the relative motion of two interconnected bodies, directly powering reverse osmosis desalination without the need for electricity conversion. This approach significantly improves efficiency compared to conventional systems. Operating offshore, ReWater also minimizes environmental impact and avoids competition for land use.

Strategic testing location for project ReWater

ReWater found its ideal testing ground at the Port of Las Palmas, where we have been able to conduct open-water trials and return to dock for iterative improvement cycles.

Ocean Oasis’ ReWater: moving beyond the prototype

Our ReWater project is just the beginning. Following the successful testing and validation phase, we’ve now advanced to developing a pre-commercial fleet of wave-powered desalination units. These scaled installations will connect directly to water distribution systems, helping communities tackle water stress sustainably at a larger scale.

Through project ReWater, we proved that waves can become water, establishing a technology foundation that now powers our mission to transform coastal water security worldwide.

Powerful Partnerships

This breakthrough wouldn’t have been possible without our dedicated partners:

  • PLOCAN (testing infrastructure)
  • Government of the Canary Islands
  • Cabildo de Gran Canaria
  • Innovation Norway
  • European Innovation Council Accelerator
  • Grieg Maritime Group

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizont Europe research and innovation programme under the grant agreement no.190150864

All rights reserved © Ocean Oasis | Legal Notice | Privacy & Cookie Policy

0
10/04/2025 In Projects

Canary Islands Desalination Project

Addressing water scarcity with our Canary Islands desalination project

The Canary Islands are among the largest users of desalinated water in Europe, with demand expected to grow due to population growth, agriculture needs and tourism. Currently, desalination supplies approximately 180 million m3/year of water across the islands. The islands’ unique geography and location make them an ideal setting for showcasing our solution.

The who, what and why of offshore desalination in Spain

The Canary Islands desalination project began following the testing of our first prototype, GAIA, from the Port of Las Palmas. As we established our presence in the Canary Islands, we identified a clear need for sustainable desalination solutions and brought together the ideal partners to form a consortium. This consortium is now working alongside the local water utility to deliver the first project.

Through this local partnership, we secured €6 million in funding from the European Innovation Council Accelerator, for the DesaLIFE (Desalination for Environmental Sustainability And LIFE) project that will deploy a fleet of buoys in the north of Gran Canaria.

Addressing water scarcity with our Canary Islands desalination project

Desalination ensures a consistent water supply in Spain

The onshore desalination plant will contribute to the implementation and operation phases of DESALIFE by integrating the offshore freshwater produced by the desalination buoys with its own production.

Desalination in Spain continues to play a critical role in ensuring water security. Together with water reuse, desalination is attracting government and private investment to ensure there is a consistent water supply across the country.

Recently, the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food said that desalination and desalinated waters would be “essential” to achieve environmental sustainability, as well as guaranteeing a water supply to combat drought.

In the Canary Islands, efforts to decarbonize the energy system face significant structural challenges. The insular condition of the archipelago, limited land availability due to competing uses, grid constraints, and high electricity demand from energy-intensive sectors such as desalination, all contribute to a slower and more complex transition. Notably, desalination alone accounts for more than 10% of total electricity consumption in the islands.

In this context, wave power offers promising potential. As a locally available and consistent energy source, wave energy could support off-grid desalination and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, contributing meaningfully to the decarbonization of the water-energy nexus in the islands.

Why our Gran Canaria success matters

Our strategic presence here showcases a solution that coastal communities globally can adopt:

  • Proven performance: The GAIA prototype has shown reliable, wave-powered freshwater production under real ocean conditions.
  • Zero emissions water production: The system uses direct wave energy to generate freshwater, entirely independent of fossil fuels.
  • Local integration: Our Spanish subsidiary serves as a base for deployment, maintenance, and commercial deployment.
  • Reduced environmental impact: Offshore solution minimises ecosystem disruption and eliminates harmful brine discharge.

An invitation to water-stressed regions

If your coastal community faces water security challenges, our Gran Canaria project demonstrates how wave-powered technology offers key advantages: It enables an energy secure, off-grid freshwater production independent of existing electricity infrastructure, delivers zero-emissions output with minimal land use, ensures reliable water supply regardless of grid stability or fuel availability, and allows for scalable deployment to meet growing demand.

Connect with us to learn how our proven approach can address your community’s water needs through ocean wave power.

Read more about the project announcement.

0