FLOCEAN Company Profile

Background

FLOCEAN AS, established in 2024 as a spin-off from FSubsea—a fifth-generation Norwegian family business—focuses on delivering climate-smart, cost-effective, and robust subsea desalination solutions. The company's mission is to provide affordable freshwater to people, agriculture, and industry in the most climate-smart and ocean-friendly manner possible. By harnessing the natural properties of deep ocean water and leveraging over a century of subsea processing experience, FLOCEAN addresses the global challenge of freshwater scarcity.

Key Strategic Focus

FLOCEAN specializes in subsea desalination technology, deploying modular desalination pods at depths of 400–600 meters. These pods utilize natural hydrostatic pressure to significantly reduce energy consumption, offering a sustainable and robust solution to freshwater scarcity. The company's primary markets include island communities, agricultural sectors, and urban areas with limited freshwater resources, particularly in regions like the Mediterranean and other coastal areas with access to seawater.

Financials and Funding

In December 2024, FLOCEAN successfully closed its Series A funding round, raising 100 million NOK. The round was led by Burnt Island Ventures, Nysnø Climate Investments, and Freebird Partners, with additional support from Katapult Ocean, MP Pensjon, and former Bridgewater Associates executives. The capital raised is intended to drive FLOCEAN's scaling efforts and support the deployment of commercial subsea desalination projects worldwide.

Pipeline Development

FLOCEAN has initiated several key projects to demonstrate and commercialize its subsea desalination technology:

Flocean Zero: Launched in November 2024, this program continuously collects and analyzes large volumes of deep ocean seawater for desalination. Over four months, the system produced over 5 million liters of water, consistently meeting WHO's "excellent" category for drinking water. The testing demonstrated near-zero biofouling potential, addressing one of desalination's most persistent challenges.

Flocean One: A large-scale, 1,000 m³/day commercial demonstration system designed for client observation and commercial operation. This project has attracted significant interest, with multiple off-take negotiations underway.

Red Sea Deployment: In August 2023, FLOCEAN shipped its first commercial subsea desalination plant to a client in the Red Sea. The system leverages clean and naturally pressurized water at depths of 300 to 600 meters to produce freshwater using proven seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) technology. The system uses 30–50% less energy than modern terrestrial SWRO plants and has no harmful chemical or brine discharge.

Technological Platform and Innovation

FLOCEAN's subsea desalination technology is distinguished by several proprietary innovations:

Natural Hydrostatic Pressure Utilization: By installing desalination pods at depths of 400–600 meters, the system harnesses natural hydrostatic pressure to drive reverse osmosis, reducing energy consumption by 30–50% compared to traditional land-based plants.

Minimal Environmental Impact: The deep-sea intake and outfall design minimizes the impact on marine life, avoiding areas with high biological activity. The system ensures that marine ecosystems are not disrupted by intake or discharge processes.

Modular and Scalable Design: Each subsea desalination pod can produce up to 7,500 m³/day of freshwater. Multiple pods can be installed per site to increase capacity, offering flexibility to meet varying demand levels.

Leadership Team

FLOCEAN is led by a team with extensive experience in subsea technologies and water solutions:

Alexander Fuglesang: Founder and CEO. A fifth-generation member of the family behind FSubsea, Fuglesang has spearheaded the development of FLOCEAN's subsea desalination technology, leveraging his deep expertise in subsea fluid handling.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The global desalination market is projected to reach USD 33.38 billion by 2030, up from USD 16.84 billion in 2022. As freshwater shortages intensify, with the UN forecasting a 40% deficit by 2030, innovative solutions like FLOCEAN's subsea desalination technology are critical to addressing this challenge.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in the desalination industry include:

IDE Technologies: Specializes in large-scale desalination projects, offering both thermal and membrane-based solutions.

Veolia Water Technologies: Provides a range of water treatment solutions, including desalination, with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.

Suez Water Technologies & Solutions: Offers comprehensive water treatment services, including desalination, with an emphasis on innovation and environmental responsibility.

FLOCEAN differentiates itself by focusing on subsea desalination, leveraging natural hydrostatic pressure to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

FLOCEAN has established significant collaborations to strengthen its market position and innovation capacity:

Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC): In March 2025, MWSC announced a feasibility study for subsea desalination technology in partnership with FLOCEAN. This initiative aims to explore the integration of advanced technology into MWSC's water infrastructure, addressing the Maldives' unique challenges in delivering sustainable potable water.

Burnt Island Ventures: As a lead investor in FLOCEAN's Series A funding round, Burnt Island Ventures supports the company's mission to provide sustainable freshwater solutions.

Operational Insights

FLOCEAN's subsea desalination technology offers several competitive advantages:

Energy Efficiency: Utilizing natural hydrostatic pressure reduces energy consumption by 30–50% compared to traditional land-based plants.

Environmental Sustainability: The system minimizes environmental impact by reducing chemical usage and eliminating harmful brine discharge, protecting marine ecosystems.

Scalability: The modular design allows for flexible scaling to meet varying demand levels, making it suitable for diverse applications, from small island communities to large industrial operations.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

FLOCEAN is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable freshwater solutions:

Global Expansion: With successful deployments in the Red Sea and ongoing feasibility studies in the Maldives, FLOCEAN aims to expand its presence in water-stressed regions worldwide.

Technological Advancements: Continued investment in research and development will enhance the efficiency and scalability of FLOCEAN's subsea desalination technology.

Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with governments, utilities, and industrial partners will facilitate the adoption of subsea desalination solutions, addressing global water scarcity challenges.