Solving the water crisis: Emerging technologies in water desalination

Water is one of the most essential resources for life on Earth, yet many regions are experiencing severe shortages. Population growth, industrialization, and climate change have placed increasing pressure on freshwater supplies worldwide. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to ensure reliable and sustainable access to clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. To address the global water crisis, various measures are being implemented, including improving water quality, promoting efficient water use, and ensuring fair access to safe drinking water and sanitation. One approach to increasing water availability is water desalination.

What is Water Desalination?

Desalination is a process that removes salt and other minerals from seawater or brackish water, making it safe for drinking or industrial use. It is especially important in coastal and arid regions, where natural freshwater resources are insufficient to meet demand.  There are two common methods: reverse osmosis, which pushes seawater through a special filter that removes salt and impurities, and thermal distillation, where water is heated until it turns into steam and then cooled back into liquid, leaving the salt behind. 

The desalination technology market has been growing rapidly and continues to expand. According to a report from Fortune Business Insights, it is expected to reach USD 25.68 billion in 2024. Despite the positive growth, companies and research institutions face challenges mainly due to high energy consumption and environmental impacts of desalination. Traditional desalination methods, such as reverse osmosis and thermal distillation, require large amounts of energy, making them costly and dependent on fossil fuels in many cases. Additionally, the disposal of concentrated brine (highly salty wastewater) into oceans can harm marine ecosystems by increasing salinity levels and affecting aquatic life. To address these issues, researchers are focusing on energy-efficient technologies and sustainable solutions.

New approaches to desalination: Sustainable solutions from WaterTech startups

Solar-Powered Desalination

Startups are developing solar-powered water extraction systems that eliminate the need for fossil fuel-based energy. These systems use solar panels to heat and turn water into vapor, which then condenses into clean, drinkable water. They can extract moisture from the air or desalinate seawater, making them especially useful for remote or off-grid coastal and desert areas, where access to fresh water is limited. OSMOSUN specializes in solar-powered desalination solutions that significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Their technology uses photovoltaic energy to drive reverse osmosis desalination processes, making fresh water production more sustainable and cost-effective.

Membrane Innovations

Traditional reverse osmosis membranes require high pressure and significant energy input. However, startups are developing next-generation membranes made from graphene or nanomaterials that allow for higher water flow with lower energy consumption, improving desalination efficiency while reducing operational costs. Waterise takes a different approach by using subsea desalination technology. Their system operates at depths where natural hydrostatic pressure assists the reverse osmosis process, reducing the need for high-pressure pumps. By placing desalination units on the ocean floor, Waterise significantly lowers energy demands, offering a scalable and sustainable solution for freshwater production.

Brine Mining

Brine disposal remains a major environmental concern for desalination plants, but innovative startups are turning this challenge into an opportunity. Tidal Metals focuses on extracting valuable minerals such as lithium, magnesium, and potassium from desalination brine. By recovering these critical resources, the company not only reduces environmental impact but also creates an economically viable byproduct that can support industries such as battery manufacturing and agriculture.

Electrochemical Desalination

Electrochemical desalination offers a promising alternative to traditional methods by utilizing electrical fields to remove salt from water with reduced energy consumption. Membrion has developed flexible, ceramic-based ion-exchange membranes that enhance the efficiency of electrochemical water treatment. Their technology is particularly well-suited for industrial applications, providing a cost-effective solution for desalinating brackish water and improving water purification processes.

If you're interested in the latest WaterTech innovations, check out our article on 7 WaterTech Startups You Should Know in 2025.

WaterTech Startups wanted

At RootCamp, we are seeking WaterTech startups for our acceleration program. If you’re developing solutions for water treatment, desalination, or smart water management, we’d love to hear from you. The application deadline ends on March 19th.