The Future of Freshwater is Subsea
In briefAI summary — tap to read
Alexander Fuglesang, founder and CEO of Flocean, presented subsea desalination technology that converts deep ocean water into fresh water more sustainably and economically than traditional plants. The system uses natural ocean pressure at 400+ meters depth to perform reverse osmosis without chemicals, requiring 30-50% less energy while avoiding large land footprints and brine discharge problems.
Key takeaways
- Subsea desalination harvests fresh water from pressurized deep ocean water at 400+ meters depth, eliminating the need for energy-intensive pre-treatment and avoiding the 60% saline brine waste of conventional plants.
- The technology leverages 40 years of Norwegian subsea oil and gas expertise in infrastructure design, robotics, and maintenance procedures that allow systems to operate unattended for years with planned maintenance cycles of 18-36 months.
- A single modular unit produces 1-5 million liters daily (serving 6,000-30,000 people), with 10 units occupying less than half a football field on the seabed and delivering water via natural buoyancy gradients to shore.
- The business model uses water purchase agreements similar to renewable energy service contracts, targeting regions where energy costs are high, ecosystems are sensitive, and land is scarce such as the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Red Sea.
- Early-stage project development costs ($20,000-$100,000 for feasibility studies, bathymetry surveys, and regulatory engagement) represent a key bottleneck that partnerships and grants could help overcome.
About Alexander FuglesangAlexander Fuglesang is founder and CEO of Flocean, a subsea desalination company based in Oslo, Norway, with expertise in marine systems and experience from family businesses in complex ocean pumping systems.
AI-generated from the meeting recording — AI can make mistakes, so check the recording for anything important.
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Program: The Future of Freshwater is Subsea
Speaker: Alexander Fuglesang
Every week we bring you a new program on innovation, entrepreneurship, and education, and how they contribute to service to others.
The world faces a problem of accelerating water scarcity combined with the considerable limitations of conventional coastal desalination. The Norwegian company Flocean, backed by strong US partners such as Xylem and Burnt Island Ventures, introduces a new approach to seawater desalination designed for resilient, low-impact, and cost-competitive drinking water supply.
To the rescue is a subsea desalination system: operating at 400–600 meters depth where seawater is naturally clean, cold, and already pressurized. By leveraging these conditions, the system cuts energy use by ~30–50% versus conventional sea water reverse osmosis, reduces pre-treatment needs and coastal land requirements, and avoids chemicals and concentrated brine discharge. This presentation covers the path to scale—standardized, modular plants delivered as "water-as-a-service," including the first commercial deployment, Flocean One, in the second quarter of 2026.
Our speaker, Alexander Fuglesang, is an ocean technology entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Flocean, a Norwegian company developing subsea desalination systems that turn deep ocean water into drinking water. He holds a business degree from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver) and previously worked as a venture capitalist in London.
Raised around advanced pumping systems and a large industrial workshop, he developed a deep understanding of rotating machinery. His connection to the ocean is equally deep: he has training in marine biology, has sailed across the Atlantic, and is an active seaplane pilot and scuba diver.
Members and guests, please welcome Alexander Fuglesang!
To learn more, go to:
https://flocean.green
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