OceanWell Makes Significant Progress in XPRIZE Water Scarcity Competition

Menlo Park, California – May 13, 2026 – OceanWell has officially advanced to the semifinal stage of the ambitious $119 million XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition. This competition stands out as the largest global initiative focused on addressing water scarcity through innovative solutions aimed at ensuring access to clean water via sustainable seawater desalination methods.

Recognized for its technical excellence and operational performance, OceanWell was selected from a pool of global participants contesting to tackle the challenges posed by increasing water scarcity. Specifically, it was called out in Track A System-Level Innovation for its groundbreaking subsea water farm technology. By tapping into the natural hydrostatic pressure found at depths exceeding 400 meters, OceanWell’s technology leverages this pressure to facilitate the reverse osmosis process while significantly lowering energy demands by as much as 40% compared to traditional desalination systems.

As nations across the globe grapple with obstacles related to population growth, climate change, prolonged droughts, and failing infrastructure, OceanWell is committed to developing modular deep-sea water farms. These farms are designed to provide communities with more dependable drinking water supplies that are also resilient to the impacts of climate variability, while minimizing ecological footprints. The acknowledgment of OceanWell’s innovative solutions at the semifinals represents a critical move toward scalable, energy-efficient, and economically feasible answers to the water scarcity crisis.

This milestone comes amid a year marked by dynamic advancements for OceanWell. Transitioning from pilot tests to large-scale implementations, OceanWell successfully completed its initial pilot project in collaboration with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. Furthermore, they have made significant strides in planning Water Farm 1, an unprecedented subsea desalination project backed by a consortium of water agencies across Southern California. Additionally, they are engaging in administrative discussions with Eau d'Azur to explore deployment possibilities in the Mediterranean region.

Robert Bergstrom, CEO of OceanWell, emphasized the urgency of addressing global water scarcity. He stated, "Water scarcity is becoming one of the defining infrastructure challenges of this century. We believe our subsea water farms can lead to a future where accessible and sustainable drinking water becomes more reliable and environmentally sound. Progressing to the semifinals serves not only as validation of our mission but also of the growing momentum we’re generating with our partners."

Distinct from conventional desalination plants, OceanWell’s modular system is meticulously designed to minimize disruption to marine ecosystems. It achieves this by curtailing concentrated brine discharge and eliminating the necessity for massive coastal industrial plants. Each subsea pod within OceanWell's network is capable of producing up to one million gallons of fresh water daily, resulting in a decentralized and versatile approach to countering the escalating water stress faced in various regions.

The semifinal evaluations are slated for 2026, with finalists expected to be announced in 2027. As the XPRIZE competition continues, OceanWell will engage in rigorous offshore testing, environmental validations, and strategic partnerships centered on scaling their subsea water farms to commercial potential.

About OceanWell

OceanWell has crafted a unique modular subsea water farm solution that makes use of the natural hydrostatic pressure of the ocean at depths beyond 400 meters to sustainably generate fresh water. This innovative technology is characterized by energy efficiency—reporting up to 40% lower power consumption relative to traditional desalination efforts—an ecological focus that negates strong brine discharge, and ease of deployment that requires minimal land use. This effectively circumvents the conventional drawbacks associated with desalination, such as high energy usage, steep costs, and significant ecological impacts necessitating large municipal installations.

Backed by Kubota Corporation, OceanWell is an alum of the European Water Tech Accelerator, a participant in BCG's Social Impact Accelerator, and is heavily involved in the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition. Supported by a coalition of 25 California water agencies, OceanWell is poised to lead the charge in innovative solutions for the global water crisis. For further information, please visit oceanwellwater.com.

About XPRIZE

XPRIZE is globally recognized for its groundbreaking approach to solving humanity’s most pressing challenges through large-scale competitions. For more than three decades, XPRIZE has harnessed crowd-sourced innovation to foster scientifically scalable solutions that work toward a more equitable and abundant world. For more details or to contribute to this mission, check out xprize.org.