Desolenator
Desolenator builds the SP40, a modular solar thermal desalination system that produces ultrapure water from seawater or brackish water for industrial, municipal, and agricultural customers, using patented photovoltaic-thermal panels and thermal distillation at a target cost of $1 per 1,000 litres.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersMaastricht, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Desolenator does
Desolenator B.V., headquartered in London with R&D operations in Maastricht and a regional office in Dubai, designs and deploys the SP40 — a modular, containerised solar thermal desalination system that converts seawater or brackish water into ultrapure water. The system integrates patented photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) panels, which simultaneously harvest electrical and thermal energy at roughly 60% efficiency (approximately four times standard PV), with Multi-Effect Distillation – Mechanical Vapour Compression (MED-MVC) technology. Each unit delivers up to 40 cubic metres of water per hour, supports 24/7 off-grid operation via battery and thermal storage, and targets a levelized production cost of $1 USD per 1,000 litres. The optional Zero Liquid Discharge pathway enables salt co-production and full circularity, positioning the platform as the world's first fully circular solar thermal desalination solution. No chemicals or membranes are used, and brine is described as ocean-safe.
The SP40 is sold primarily to industrial, municipal, and agricultural customers in water-stressed regions, with target verticals including data centres, semiconductor/hi-tech manufacturing, food and beverage, greenhouse agriculture, and remote hospitality. The stated business model combines three revenue streams: capital sale of the modular systems, project-based water supply engagements, and recurring water-as-a-service contracts billed monthly. Go-to-market is dominated by direct enterprise field sales and public-private partnerships with utilities and large industrial operators. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications issued by a UAF/IAF-accredited registrar, and has third-party endorsements from the United Nations, World Economic Forum, Solar Impulse Foundation, and WWF.
Active deployments include a partnership with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) at Jebel Ali under the Dubai Future Accelerator Programme (aligned with Dubai's Clean Energy Strategy 2050), a partnership with Silal (an ADQ company) at the Al Ain Innovation Oasis for agricultural desalination, and a Carlsberg Group-backed solar desalination plant in East India. Desolenator was named a semi-finalist in the $119M XPRIZE Water Scarcity Competition in May 2026 (selected from 674 teams worldwide) and won the European Commission's BlueInvest Award 2026 in the Ocean Resilience category.
Desolenator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Desolenator
- Legal name
- Desolenator B.V.
- Website
- https://desolenator.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Desolenator builds the SP40, a modular solar thermal desalination system that produces ultrapure water from seawater or brackish water for industrial, municipal, and agricultural customers, using patented photovoltaic-thermal panels and thermal distillation at a target cost of $1 per 1,000 litres.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Desolenator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Thermal Desalination Systems
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Thermal Desalination (MSF/MED) Plants & Operations (EUANAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Solar Thermal & CSP Systems (Collectors, Receivers, Thermal Storage, CSP EPC) (EUAMABAL)
Keywords
Where Desolenator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Maastricht
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Desolenator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Desalination System Sales & Deployment: Sale and deployment of SP40 modular desalination systems to industrial, municipal, and agricultural customers. Systems are modular and containerized for remote deployment. Delivered through project-based engagements with enterprise and government clients.
- Project-Based Water Supply Contracts: Water production contracts where Desolenator operates systems on-site and provides water as a service, securing water supply for customers. Monthly billing model mentioned.
- Water Provisioning Services: Provision of ultrapure, potable or custom remineralized drinking water at competitive pricing through a simple monthly bill.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Modular SP40 system — cost target: $1 USD per 1,000 litres |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Desolenator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Desolenator designs, manufactures, and deploys modular SP40 solar thermal desalination systems that convert seawater and brackish water into ultrapure water using patented photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) panels combined with Multi-Effect Distillation-Mechanical Vapour Compression (MED-MVC) technology. Each unit delivers 40 m³/hour of ultrapure water at a target cost of $1 USD per 1,000 litres with no chemicals, no membranes, and optional Zero Liquid Discharge capability. The company also operates systems on-site under water-as-a-service contracts billed monthly to industrial, municipal, and agricultural customers.
Product overview
Desolenator offers a single unified product: the SP40, the world's first fully circular solar thermal desalination system. The SP40 integrates patented PV-T panels that harvest both electrical and thermal energy (4x more efficient than standard PV), a MED-MVC distillation vessel for water purification, built-in remineralisation, and battery plus thermal storage for 24/7 off-grid operation. The system is modular and containerised at 40 m³/hour capacity, with an optional Zero Liquid Discharge pathway for full circularity. It is marketed as net-zero water infrastructure for industries, municipalities, and communities facing water scarcity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SP40 Solar Thermal Desalination System
Quantifiable outcome
- 1400% reduction in CO2 when compared to reverse osmosis desalination
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Desolenator
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Desolenator technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Desolenator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Water Globe ConsultantsminorDesolenator and Water Globe Consultants jointly won the Earth05 'Architects of Resilience' co-creation award 2026.
- Silal (ADQ)coreDesolenator partnered with Silal (an ADQ company) to deploy the world's first solar desalination plant for food production in Abu Dhabi at the Silal Al Ain Innovation Oasis. Plant provides ultra-pure water for custom crop mineralisation, greenhouse cooling services, and waste energy utilization for sustainable agriculture. Phase 2 XPRIZE strategic partner.
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)corePublic-private partnership under Dubai Future Accelerator Programme. DEWA partnered with Desolenator in 2022 to build a carbon-neutral solar-powered desalination plant at Jebel Ali producing 1,000 litres/day, with potential to reduce costs to $0.02 per litre. Demonstrates net-zero desalination at scale as part of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050.
- BritishVolt / AGBIminorFeatured in AGBI analysis on UAE's commitment to net zero future and energy transition, alongside BritishVolt and other partners.
- Dutch Greenhouse DeltaminorDutch water and horticulture sector partnership through Dutch Greenhouse Delta, working with Saudi Arabia on food security transition.
- Katapult OceanminorSelected by Katapult Ocean as one of 10 international ocean start-ups to participate in their business accelerator programme.
- Sustainable Ocean AllianceminorSelected into Sustainable Ocean Alliance's 3rd Wave Solutions cohort for ocean technology innovation support.
- Ocean Solutions AcceleratorminorSelected for the Ocean Solutions Accelerator's third wave cohort to tackle aquatic challenges and scale ocean technology.
- World Economic Forum — UplinkminorFeatured by World Economic Forum's Uplink initiative as one of 15 innovations helping fight COVID-19 and its aftermath, and as progress on the world's biggest challenges.
- Ecolog InternationalminorEcolog International and Desolenator entered into a strategic partnership to deliver a game-changing solution in producing high-quality, low-cost water using the power of the sun.
- World Economic ForumminorDesolenator is a World Economic Forum partner, recognized as an innovation contributing to sustainable development goals.
- United NationsminorDesolenator is recognized by the United Nations as an innovation supporting global sustainability goals and water security.
- Solar Impulse FoundationminorDesolenator is recognized by the Solar Impulse Foundation as a clean technology solution meeting high standards of efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Desolenator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Solar Water Solutions: Finnish company developing solar-powered desalination systems for off-grid and remote applications, using solar thermal and PV-T concepts. Closest direct competitor to Desolenator in solar thermal desalination with similar modular deployment model and target customers in water-stressed regions.
Emerging players
- Source Global: US-based company producing solar-powered atmospheric water generators (Source Hydropanels) that extract water from air. Different feedstock (air vs seawater) but targets the same sustainability-driven, off-grid, premium water customers including remote communities, industrial sites, and ESG-conscious enterprises.
Broad incumbents
- Gradiant: US-based water technology company with proprietary desalination and water reuse solutions including RO and thermal approaches. Competes with Desolenator in industrial water treatment and municipal desalination, particularly for industrial customers seeking zero-liquid-discharge and ESG-aligned solutions.
- IDE Technologies: Israel-based global leader in thermal and membrane desalination, including MED and MVC technologies that are core to Desolenator's SP40. Direct technical overlap and customer overlap in Middle East utilities; represents the scaled incumbent Desolenator competes against for utility-grade contracts.
- Energy Recovery Inc: US-listed company providing energy recovery devices and pumps that materially reduce RO desalination energy consumption. Their continued efficiency gains compress the cost gap between conventional RO and Desolenator's solar thermal approach, reshaping the competitive landscape.
- ACCIONA Agua: Spain-based EPC contractor and operator of large-scale desalination plants with significant Gulf and Mediterranean project footprint. Competes for the same municipal and industrial desalination tenders that Desolenator targets, with established EPC credentials and balance sheet capacity Desolenator lacks.
- Veolia Water Technologies: Global water services giant offering desalination, water reuse, and ZLD solutions to municipalities and industries worldwide. Represents the scaled, full-stack incumbent against which Desolenator's circular, off-grid pitch must differentiate on ESG and modularity.
- Sidem (Suez): Suez-owned EPC contractor specializing in large seawater desalination plants using thermal and RO technologies, with major Gulf project references. Overlaps directly with Desolenator's Gulf utility and industrial customer base at the mega-project scale.
Others
- ACWA Power: Saudi-listed developer, owner, and operator of power and desalination plants; Desolenator Chairman Paddy Padmanathan is ACWA Power's former CEO. While not a direct technology competitor, ACWA Power is the dominant buyer of desalination technologies in the Gulf and a critical partner/customer channel for Desolenator.
Regional players
- Tata Projects (Water EPC): Indian EPC contractor executing large water infrastructure and desalination projects domestically and in the Middle East. Comparable as an Indian-headquartered EPC channel partner for industrial water projects, particularly relevant given Desolenator's Carlsberg deployment in East India.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Desolenator social profiles
Digital presenceDesolenator compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Desolenator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Desolenator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Desolenator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Desolenator 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 Desolenator
What does Desolenator do?
Desolenator designs, manufactures, and deploys modular SP40 solar thermal desalination systems that convert seawater and brackish water into ultrapure water using patented photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) panels combined with Multi-Effect Distillation-Mechanical Vapour Compression (MED-MVC) technology. Each unit delivers 40 m³/hour of ultrapure water at a target cost of $1 USD per 1,000 litres with no chemicals, no membranes, and optional Zero Liquid Discharge capability. The company also operates systems on-site under water-as-a-service contracts billed monthly to industrial, municipal, and agricultural customers.
Is Desolenator a public or private company?
Desolenator is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Desolenator founded?
Desolenator was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Desolenator based?
Desolenator is headquartered in Maastricht, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Desolenator make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Desalination System Sales & Deployment is the primary driver. The others are project-Based Water Supply Contracts and water Provisioning Services.
Who are Desolenator's main competitors?
Solar Water Solutions is listed as a direct peer. Source Global is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Gradiant, IDE Technologies, Energy Recovery Inc, ACCIONA Agua, Veolia Water Technologies and Sidem (Suez). ACWA Power is listed as an others. Tata Projects (Water EPC) is listed as a regional player.
Does Desolenator have an API?
No public API is recorded for Desolenator.
What industry is Desolenator in?
Desolenator's product category is Solar Thermal Desalination Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAFAC, Thermal Desalination (MSF/MED) Plants & Operations, with a secondary code of EUAMABAL, Solar Thermal & CSP Systems (Collectors, Receivers, Thermal Storage, CSP EPC). Its NAICS code is 22131 and its SIC code is 4941.