Norwegian desalination startup Flocean has raised $9 million in Series A funding. The company plans to use the funding to accelerate the deployment of commercial subsea desalination projects.
Global freshwater demand is projected to exceed supply by 40% in 2030. Desalination is considered one of the options for providing fresh water but conventional systems can consume considerable amounts of energy and leave environmental damage.
Flocean, founded in 2024, said it uses deep water reverse osmosis (RO) systems 400-600 meters under the ocean where the water is already pressurized and where there is considerably less bacteria, organics and particulate matter. Using the pressure in the deep ocean, the company said, reduces energy consumption by up to 50%, eliminates toxic brine discharge and reduces land use by up to 95% compared to current methods.
The round was led by Burnt Island Ventures, Nysnø Climate Investments and Freebird Partners, with participation from Katapult Ocean, MP Pensjon, and former Bridgewater Associates executives investing through a Donor Advised Fund structure.
“Flocean is a game-changer in the desalination sector that’s been slowed by environmental concerns and permitting, and a lifeline for regions facing escalating water shortages,” noted Steve Kloos, Partner at Burnt Island Ventures and Director at Flocean. “This is the kind of creative, scalable solution we need to tackle the water crisis head-on, by a passionate team with deep subsea expertise.”
Flocean operates under a BOO (Build-Own-Operate) model, structuring each project as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to finance and deliver long-term, bankable water supply agreements. These SPVs secure 15-to-25-year offtake agreements for freshwater production, supplying volumes from 5,000 to 50,000 kiloliters per day to municipal, industrial, and agricultural clients.
“Flocean’s subsea approach represents a leap forward in sustainable desalination, aligning perfectly with our commitment to climate-positive solutions,” said John Egil Johannessen, Investment Manager at Nysnø Climate Investments. “By harnessing natural ocean pressure and reducing energy use, Flocean is setting a new standard for the industry.”
