Trevi Systems
Trevi Systems develops proprietary Forward Osmosis and Pressurized Forward Osmosis membrane systems for energy-efficient desalination, brine concentration, and zero liquid discharge, serving oil & gas, mining, data center, and government customers globally with 25 employees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersRohnert Park, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Trevi Systems does
Trevi Systems Inc. is a US-based water technology company founded in 2010 by John Webley and headquartered in Rohnert Park, California. The company develops and commercializes proprietary Forward Osmosis (FO) and Pressurized Forward Osmosis (PFO) membrane systems for water desalination, brine concentration, and industrial wastewater treatment, powered by renewable energy sources including solar-thermal, geothermal, and industrial waste heat. Its core innovation is a proprietary retrograde thermolytic solute draw solution that enables phase separation at low temperatures, allowing FO systems to operate at ultra-low pressure (below 60 psi) while achieving recovery rates of up to 98% for brackish water and 65%+ for seawater, with energy consumption approximately one-third that of conventional reverse osmosis. The company holds 33 granted patents plus additional pending and licensed patents covering its chemistry and membrane designs.
Trevi generates revenue through three streams: hardware sales of containerized, skid-mounted, and modular FO/PFO systems; technology licensing of its proprietary FO and PFO technologies to partners; and consulting services for renewable desalination, brine concentration, and resource recovery. The company sells directly to enterprise customers through a technical sales organization with regional offices in Muscat (Oman), Nicosia (Cyprus), and Tokyo (Japan), targeting oil & gas operators, government research institutions, water utilities, mining companies, and industrial manufacturers facing water scarcity, high-salinity wastewater, or zero liquid discharge requirements. Notable customers include Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii (NELHA), Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research, Orange County Water District, Masdar, Petro China, Indian Department of Energy, and the US Navy.
The company operates with approximately 25 full-time employees and has completed 12+ pilot projects worldwide across the US, Middle East (Oman, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia), Asia (Japan, India, China), and Europe (Cyprus). Strategic partnerships with ACWA Power, ITOCHU Corporation (represented on the board), Toyobo, Nippon Shokubai, and Heliovis provide technology integration and market access. The company is venture and grant funded, with cumulative equity raises of approximately $33M and non-dilutive grant funding exceeding $13M from sources including the US Department of Energy, California Energy Commission, and Masdar.
Trevi Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Trevi Systems
- Legal name
- Trevi Systems Inc.
- Website
- https://trevisystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Trevi Systems develops proprietary Forward Osmosis and Pressurized Forward Osmosis membrane systems for energy-efficient desalination, brine concentration, and zero liquid discharge, serving oil & gas, mining, data center, and government customers globally with 25 employees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Trevi Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Desalination & Treatment Systems
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hybrid Desalination Systems (RO + Thermal/Other) (EUANAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Desalination Plant EPC, O&M & Performance Optimization (EUANAFAK), Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Plants & Operations (EUANAFAA), Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis (BWRO) Plants & Operations (EUANAFAB), Membranes, Consumables & Chemicals (Elements, Antiscalants, Cleaning) (EUANAFAJ), Desalination Plant Construction (IMAFAGAG)
Keywords
Where Trevi Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rohnert Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Trevi Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Water Desalination Systems: Sale of containerized, skid-mounted, and modular FO and PFO water treatment systems for seawater desalination, brackish water treatment, and industrial wastewater purification.
- Technology Licensing: Trevi licenses its proprietary FO and PFO technologies to partners and customers for deployment in various water treatment applications.
- Technology Consulting: Consulting services for renewable desalination, brine concentration, zero liquid discharge, and resource recovery across various industries.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Trevi Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Trevi Systems develops and manufactures Forward Osmosis (FO) and Pressurized Forward Osmosis (PFO) water treatment systems that desalinate seawater, brackish water, and industrial wastewater using a proprietary retrograde thermolytic draw solution activated by low-grade heat. The company sells containerized, skid-mounted, and modular systems engineered for renewable-energy-powered operation (solar-thermal, geothermal, waste heat), along with associated brine concentration and resource recovery systems for high-salinity applications. The company also licenses its FO/PFO technology and provides engineering consulting for zero/minimum liquid discharge projects.
Product overview
Trevi Systems is a technology developer offering a portfolio of water purification solutions centered on its proprietary Forward Osmosis (FO) and Pressurized Forward Osmosis (PFO) technologies. The core offering consists of FO Systems and PFO Systems, which use natural osmotic pressure with proprietary retrograde thermolytic draw solutions to desalinate seawater, brackish water, and treat industrial/municipal wastewater. Supporting technologies include Seawater Reverse Osmosis, Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis, Electro-Deionization Metathesis, Ultrafiltration, and Advanced Oxidation Processes. The company also offers proprietary draw solutions (FDA-approved, biodegradable) and brine concentration systems for mineral recovery. System configurations include containerized, skid-mounted, and modular designs. Applications span renewable desalination powered by solar-thermal or waste heat, zero/minimal liquid discharge (ZLD/MLD), and resource recovery for mining, oil & gas, agriculture, data centers, and municipal wastewater. The flagship product is the 500 m3/day solar-powered FO seawater desalination plant in Hawaii.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Forward Osmosis (FO) Systems Proprietary Forward Osmosis water treatment systems that use natural osmotic pressure and a proprietary retrograde thermolytic draw solution to separate freshwater from seawater, brackish water, or wastewater. The draw solution is recovered using low-grade thermal heat, enabling ultra-low pressure (<60 psi) operation and 1/3 the energy consumption of reverse osmosis.
- Pressurized Forward Osmosis (PFO) Systems
- Proprietary Draw Solutions Trevi's retrograde thermolytic solute draw solutions with high osmotic pressure (up to 4000 psi) for FO desalination. FDA-approved, food-safe, biodegradable, and non-toxic in aquatic environments. Activated by low-grade waste heat from solar thermal, geothermal, or industrial sources.
- Renewable Desalination Systems Low-energy FO technology coupled with concentrated solar power (CSP arrays, solar ponds, geothermal) for seawater, brackish groundwater, or produced water desalination. Available in containerized, skid-mounted, and modular configurations.
- Zero/Minimal Liquid Discharge (ZLD/MLD) Systems Combined FO and PFO technology enabling zero liquid discharge and minimum liquid discharge for industrial wastewater treatment. Includes resource recovery capabilities for valuable minerals from brine.
- Brine Concentration Systems PFO technology for concentrating high salinity waters, enabling brine concentration and resource recovery. Systems recover lithium, nickel, salt, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and potassium from brine sources for mining and resource recovery applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% lower energy consumption compared to traditional reverse osmosis
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Trevi Systems
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Trevi Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Trevi Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Khalifa UniversitycorePart of Team Watts & Water (Trevi, Medisun, Khalifa University) in XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition. Team advanced to Stage 2 of the $119M XPRIZE initiative.
- MedisuncorePart of Team Watts & Water (Trevi, Medisun, Khalifa University) in XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition. Medisun provides energy expertise for the team.
- ACWA PowerflagshipStrategic MoU signed at ACWA Innovation Day 2024 for joint demonstration of Trevi's Forward Osmosis System in Saudi Arabia. ACWA Power is the world's largest private water desalination company with presence in 12 countries and capacity to manage 7.64 million m3/day of desalinated water.
- AJMC (Arabian Japanese Membrane Company)corePartnership with AJMC (collaboration between TOYOBO MC Corporation and ITOCHU Plantech Inc.) for RO membrane integration in Saudi Arabia demonstration project. AJMC specializes in manufacturing RO membranes and technical services for Saudi Arabia, GCC, and North Africa markets.
- Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii (NELHA)flagshipTrevi deployed its 4th generation Forward Osmosis technology at NELHA's HOST Park facility. The $4M DOE-funded project (awarded to NELHA in 2022) resulted in a 500 m3/day renewable seawater desalination plant - Trevi's flagship project demonstrating carbon-free desalination.
- Petroleum Development Oman (PDO)flagship140 m3/day renewable ZLD system for produced water treatment with PFO technology. Oman office supports PDO operations directly. Oman produces 1,000,000m3/day of produced water requiring treatment, representing massive market opportunity.
- MasdarcoreMasdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) partnered on 50 m3/day renewable FO seawater desalination pilot in UAE. The $3M two-year study validated FO energy savings of 1/3 electricity of RO and 1/2 thermal energy of MED.
- Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR)coreCompleted 10 m3/day pilot system at KISR's desalination laboratory to demonstrate energy savings and scaling potential in the Gulf region. Large system order close to being signed.
- Orange County Water District (OCWD)core10 m3/day FO brine concentration pilot for RO concentrate treatment, funded by $1.7M California Energy Commission PIR Grant. OCWD is a world leader in wastewater reuse since the 1970s.
- National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI)coreNAWI-funded 25 m3/day mobile PFO/FO pilot for nZLD (near-Zero Liquid Discharge) treatment of O&G produced wastewaters and agriculture wastewaters at 5 commercial sites in California.
- Toyobo MC CorporationcoreToyobo supplied membranes for Trevi's Forward Osmosis system, particularly for the Hawaii NELHA project. Toyobo is a Japanese membrane manufacturer specializing in water treatment membranes.
- Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd.coreSupplied draw solution for Trevi's Forward Osmosis system in the Hawaii NELHA project. Nippon Shokubai is a Japanese chemical company specializing in functional materials.
- BilfingerminorEngineering and industrial services company exploring synergy with Trevi's FO technologies for combined treatment solutions.
- Cyprus InstitutecoreHost of Trevi's Cyprus renewable seawater desalination plant at the Proteas facility. Plant is powered by solar-thermal molten salt array.
- Romberg Tiburon CenterminorResearch partner in Tiburon, California for environmental technology development.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Trevi Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Acciona Agua: Spanish global water treatment company with major SWRO and BWRO desalination projects worldwide. Competes with Trevi in the broader desalination market with mature RO technology and large-scale project delivery.
- IDE Technologies: Israel-based global leader in desalination with proprietary RO and thermal technologies. Operates some of the world's largest SWRO plants. Competes with Trevi in large-scale seawater desalination but offers more established and proven technology.
- Veolia Water Technologies: Global water treatment giant offering a broad portfolio including desalination, ZLD, and industrial water solutions. Competes with Trevi across multiple verticals (oil & gas, mining, industrial) with established customer relationships and broader service offerings.
- SUEZ Water Technologies: Global water treatment and services company with comprehensive desalination, ZLD, and industrial water offerings. Broad incumbent competing with Trevi in industrial and municipal water treatment applications.
Emerging players
- EnergyX: US-based lithium extraction company using membrane and direct lithium extraction technologies to recover lithium from brine. Direct overlap with Trevi's mineral recovery from brine capabilities and the lithium supply chain.
- Lilac Solutions: US-based direct lithium extraction company using ion exchange beads to recover lithium from brine sources. Overlaps with Trevi's PFO-based lithium recovery capabilities for brine management and critical mineral supply.
Direct peers
- Porifera: US-based developer of Forward Osmosis membranes and systems for water treatment, food/beverage concentration, and industrial applications. Direct FO technology competitor in the same geographic market.
- Aquafortus: New Zealand-based Forward Osmosis technology company focused on industrial wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Trevi VP Shan Yong previously worked at Aquafortus, indicating direct technology overlap.
- Modern Water: UK-based company that developed Forward Osmosis desalination technology, including the Al Khaluf FO plant in Oman. Direct FO technology competitor with similar use cases in seawater desalination and brine concentration.
Others
- Toray Industries: Japanese manufacturer of RO, NF, UF, and FO membranes for water treatment. Functions as a potential membrane supplier/partner to Trevi rather than direct competitor. Existing partnerships with Toyobo indicate Japanese membrane ecosystem is relevant to Trevi's supply chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Trevi Systems social profiles
Digital presenceTrevi Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Trevi Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Trevi Systems subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Trevi Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Trevi Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Trevi Systems
What does Trevi Systems do?
Trevi Systems develops and manufactures Forward Osmosis (FO) and Pressurized Forward Osmosis (PFO) water treatment systems that desalinate seawater, brackish water, and industrial wastewater using a proprietary retrograde thermolytic draw solution activated by low-grade heat. The company sells containerized, skid-mounted, and modular systems engineered for renewable-energy-powered operation (solar-thermal, geothermal, waste heat), along with associated brine concentration and resource recovery systems for high-salinity applications. The company also licenses its FO/PFO technology and provides engineering consulting for zero/minimum liquid discharge projects.
Is Trevi Systems a public or private company?
Trevi Systems is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Trevi Systems founded?
Trevi Systems was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Trevi Systems based?
Trevi Systems is headquartered in Rohnert Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Trevi Systems make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Water Desalination Systems are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and technology Consulting.
Who are Trevi Systems's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Acciona Agua, IDE Technologies, Veolia Water Technologies and SUEZ Water Technologies. Emerging players are EnergyX and Lilac Solutions. Direct peers are Porifera, Aquafortus and Modern Water. Toray Industries is listed as an others.
Does Trevi Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Trevi Systems.
What industry is Trevi Systems in?
Trevi Systems's product category is Water Desalination & Treatment Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAFAD, Hybrid Desalination Systems (RO + Thermal/Other), with a secondary code of EUANAFAK, Desalination Plant EPC, O&M & Performance Optimization. Its NAICS code is 22131 and its SIC code is 4941.