Oneka Technologies, a company using exclusively renewable energy from the waves to turn seawater into freshwater, has recently received a significant allocation of US$3.4 M from DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office’s (WPTO) Powering the Blue Economy™ Initiative to further develop its Icecube project and marine energy subsystem solutions.
Oneka’s wave-powered desalination technology has the potential to offer an emission-free and cost-effective solution for producing drinking water from seawater, particularly in disaster-affected areas. The DOE’s commitment to sustainable energy technologies is evident through its investment in marine energy systems, with a significant portion dedicated to advancing Oneka’s innovations.
The funding will primarily focus on two projects:
- Oneka’s IceCube: Emergency Relief Application Solution ($2 million):
Oneka Technologies USA, Inc. aims to enhance the Oneka IceCube, a wave-powered desalination device designed for emergency relief situations. The goal is to improve cost-effectiveness, technical performance, deployment methods, and readiness for commercialization. - Subcomponents Breakthrough Innovations ($1.4 million):
Oneka Technologies USA, Inc. will work on developing a self-cleaning seawater intake system, optimizing system design, and improving hydraulic components to enhance efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
The funding provided by the DOE acknowledges the potential of marine energy technologies and is expected to accelerate the development and adoption of Oneka’s solutions. These projects align with the United States’ goal of achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050, contributing to a more sustainable future.
