Oneka Technologies

Wave-powered desalination for coastal areas

Oneka Technologies is a Canadian company based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, that develops a seawater desalination system powered exclusively by wave energy. Its approach is aimed at coastal populations and industries that need a freshwater supply without relying on electricity, fuel or solar panels.

The company presents its technology as a response to water scarcity, with the stated goal of turning the oceans into a sustainable and affordable source of drinking water. The system uses mechanical buoys instead of conventional systems, which according to the company avoids any type of greenhouse gas emissions during the desalination process.

How the buoy system works

The system combines seawater with the energy of the waves themselves to produce fresh water. According to the information published, each buoy includes everything needed to generate drinking water from salt water: offshore pumping, filters and reverse osmosis membranes. The buoys are designed for limited and simple maintenance.

The company states that its system does not require electricity, fuel or solar panels; it only needs waves of sufficient height to produce drinking water. Compared with conventional systems, Oneka maintains that its solution saves one tonne of CO2 equivalent per year for every cubic metre of water produced daily.

Stated technical advantages

• Zero emissions: by using mechanical buoys, the company states that it emits no greenhouse gases.
• Zero electricity: the system does not need electricity, fuel or solar panels. The company notes that, in conventional desalination, energy costs can represent up to 60% of operating costs.
• Zero land space: the technology does not require acquiring coastal land, unlike land-based solutions. The connection is made through a freshwater pipe to the distribution network or to a storage tank. The company links this feature to a reduction in the impact on deforestation.
• Scalable and modular system: the volume of water produced is adjusted by changing the number of units in the buoy array, without the need to build a new plant or large installations in advance. Adjustments are made by Oneka without client involvement.
• Low-impact brine: the discharged brine has a salt concentration between 30% and 50% higher than that of the ocean, which the company describes as a negligible impact on marine flora and fauna. Each buoy discharges its brine independently into an active water column, allowing a rapid return to ambient salinity.
• Safe intake: the intake system is designed to protect marine life, with 60-micron inlet openings that prevent damage to ecosystems. Backwashing reduces maintenance and protects the mesh.
• Encouraging marine life: according to the company's experience, the buoy anchors, generally located on barren seabeds, are quickly colonized by marine organisms and appear to favour their growth over time.

Applications and potential clients

Oneka's desalination buoys have versatile applications and can supply fresh water to different types of entities in coastal regions. The company identifies cities and communities, hotels and resorts, private islands, industries and irrigation projects as target recipients. It also mentions municipalities and public services, tourism and resorts, industries and emergency relief.

The company describes its partners, clients and collaborators as innovators, trailblazers, committed to sustainability and active in meeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.

Management team

The founding and management team combines engineering and management profiles. Dragan Tutic, P.Eng., is founder and CEO and is based in Quebec. Elliot Charron, P.Eng., is Marine Structure and Mooring Director and is based in Nova Scotia; he is an engineering graduate of the École Centrale de Nantes and a specialist in numerical modelling and ocean engineering. Gilbert Perron, P.Eng., is Product Manager and is in Quebec; he graduated in mechanical engineering in 2014 and has experience in operations and team management.

Collaboration network

The company states that it is important for its team to participate proactively in associations and communities that share its values, with the conviction that collaboration makes it possible to address humanity's greatest challenges.

Location and contact

4615 Boul de Portland, Sherbrooke, QC J1L 0J1, Canada · Phone: +1-819-485-0335 · Email: info@onekawater.com