Membrion secures $20 million to advance industrial water circularity
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COWI Wins Construction Management Contract for California’s Syphon Reservoir Expansion
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XPRIZE has announced 143 Qualified Teams advancing in the US$119 million XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, the largest incentive challenge in its history. Sponsored by the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, the multi-year global programme aims to unlock reliable, sustainable, and affordable seawater desalination solutions to increase worldwide access to clean water. The announcement was made during Climate Week in New York City.

Addressing a Growing Global Challenge

Water scarcity is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. Today, around 80% of the world’s population already faces serious threats to water supply, and by 2030 demand is projected to outpace supply by 40%. While seas and oceans hold more than 96% of Earth’s water, desalination technologies remain energy-intensive and costly, restricting their use to a limited number of wealthier nations.

XPRIZE Water Scarcity seeks to drive innovation that will make desalination a viable, accessible, and environmentally responsible solution for all.

“Water is humanity’s most fundamental need, and yet billions face the growing threat of water scarcity as climate change reshapes our world,” said Anousheh Ansari, chief executive officer of XPRIZE. “Seawater desalination holds enormous promise, but current practices come with a steep price: high energy use, environmental strain, and limited accessibility. XPRIZE Water Scarcity is incentivising innovators worldwide to design sustainable, scalable, and affordable approaches that deliver clean water without compromising the ecosystems we all depend on.”

Global Teams Tackling Desalination

From 674 pre-registered teams across 86 countries, 143 Qualified Teams were selected after rigorous evaluation. Competitors advance across two tracks:

• Track A – System-Level Innovation (93 teams)
  Teams aim to demonstrate the ability to produce at least 1 m³/day of drinking water by the end of 2025. They have been awarded a share of US$3 million to support field testing.
• Track B – Novel Materials and Methods (50 teams)
  Teams will validate laboratory-scale innovations in desalination membranes and alternative separation technologies, preparing for live demonstrations in early 2026.

Over the coming months, Track A teams will deploy working prototypes capable of producing at least 1,000 litres of drinking water daily over two weeks while meeting local environmental standards. Track B teams will validate new separation methods for cost, efficiency, and sustainability.

“The diversity and creativity of these teams give us hope for the future of water,” said Lauren Greenlee, executive vice president of Food + Water + Waste, XPRIZE. “From academic labs to deep-tech startups, and cross-disciplinary consortiums — many from the world’s most water-stressed regions — these innovators are tackling desalination from every angle.”

Awards and Next Steps

XPRIZE will award:

• US$40 million to the winning Track A team able to produce one million litres of drinking water per day at breakthrough affordability.
• US$8 million to the Track B team that pioneers a durable desalination material or method capable of operating for at least 10 years.

Additional milestone awards totalling US$119 million are available throughout the competition.

XPRIZE Water Scarcity reflects the vision of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative to support innovation, accelerate testing, and scale transformative solutions to address the global water crisis.

Quick Reference Links

• XPRIZE
• Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative

XPRIZE Water Scarcity Awards 143 Qualified Teams in $119M Global Competition
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The International Water Association (IWA) is advancing preparations for the 2026 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition, set to take place at Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus (SEC) from 4–8 October 2026. The event will welcome the global water community to Scotland, providing a platform for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing.

As part of the build-up, IWA’s leadership and host country representatives recently met with Glasgow City Council officials at the historic City Chambers. The discussions reinforced the shared commitment to hosting a world-class congress and highlighted Glasgow’s experience as a host of major international events.

Strengthening partnerships ahead of 2026

Lord Provost of Glasgow, Jacqueline McLaren, said: “It was a pleasure to meet the International Water Association Board in Glasgow. We are just over one year away from welcoming thousands of participants to the World Water Congress & Exhibition to our wonderful City. The value of water, how we build resilience and how we manage this precious resource within a changing climate, is crucial to everyone’s existence and prosperity. We look forward to hosting this important global Congress in Glasgow.”

IWA President, Hamanth Kasan, added: “IWA has a long history of staging these important events around the world. Following our hugely successful edition in Toronto, Canada, in 2024, we have no doubt that the Congress in Glasgow will be an outstanding success and we look forward to this great opportunity to share insights and build cooperation.”

Kizito Masinde, IWA Global Events Director, emphasised: “Meeting with Glasgow’s city officials was a vital step as we build momentum towards the 2026 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition. Our goal is to deliver a world-class event that connects the global water community and leaves a positive legacy for the UK water sector. Working hand in hand with Glasgow City Council, we are committed to creating an engaging Congress experience that encourages collaboration and innovation for a sustainable water future.”

Peter Simpson, 2026 Congress President, said: “I am especially proud to see Glasgow preparing to host the 2026 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition. This Congress will shine a spotlight on our capabilities, not least around innovation and resilience, while also creating a vital space for the global water community to exchange knowledge and solutions. Bringing these perspectives together makes the event deeply meaningful — for the UK, and for the global water community.”

Academic and research focus

The IWA delegation also met with leading academics in Glasgow, underlining the role of research and innovation in addressing global water challenges. This collaboration highlights the knowledge and expertise available within the host city and the importance of connecting research with practice on the international stage.

The visit marked a key milestone in advancing preparations and strengthening ties between IWA and Glasgow, ensuring the 2026 event delivers lasting value for both the UK and the wider global water sector.

Quick Reference Links

• International Water Association (IWA)
• Scottish Event Campus (SEC)
• Glasgow City Council

IWA and Glasgow Prepare for 2026 World Water Congress & Exhibition
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Sequana, a specialist consultancy in water security and environmental management, has announced the launch of its UK operations. With expertise forged in drought-prone Australia, the company brings decades of experience in delivering climate-resilient solutions to support the UK as it faces intensifying water scarcity.

Global desalination expertise for UK resilience

Sequana has been instrumental in shaping Australia’s water resilience strategy, guiding landmark desalination projects in Victoria, Perth, Sydney and Adelaide. These projects continue to secure supplies for millions of people, demonstrating the company’s ability to deliver technically robust and socially trusted solutions.

“Sequana is not just another engineering consultant. We are the water security partner that utilities can rely on,” said Mike Walsh, Chair of Sequana. “From landmark desalination projects, we bring global best practice, delivered locally. Our track record equips us to support the UK as it faces climate change, regulatory scrutiny and rising community expectations.”

UK leadership and local delivery

Darren Nabbs, Executive Director of Sequana UK Delivery, will lead the company’s newly launched UK operations to address growing water security challenges.

The UK business will be led by Darren Nabbs, Executive Director – UK Delivery. With more than 30 years of experience in water, wastewater and desalination, Darren has successfully guided complex projects through approval gateways with a 100% success rate. Sequana also brings a proven ability to secure social licence, a growing priority in UK water planning.

“With the UK facing urgent water security challenges, we’re proud to bring the best of Australia and global practice to support utilities here,” Darren said. “Our mission is simple: to deliver water security that is climate-resilient, socially licensed and technically excellent.”

A world-class advisory model

Supported by more than 200 global specialists, Sequana provides integrated advisory services from business case to operation. Its model blends strategic oversight, governance, risk management and delivery expertise, ensuring consistency while maintaining regulatory confidence and community trust.

With this expansion, Sequana offers UK utilities and regulators a proven partner to deliver long-term, climate-resilient water security.

Sequana Expands into the UK to Tackle Water Security Challenges
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Grundfos, the global water technology company, has welcomed the findings of the Cunliffe Report, which sets out 88 recommendations for reforming water regulation in England and Wales to create a more resilient network.

The report, commissioned by the UK government and published in July 2025, emphasises infrastructure renewal, smart system planning and inter-regional connectivity. Grundfos has highlighted the importance of these measures for securing long-term water supply and improving resilience against climate and population pressures.

Bent Jensen, EVP and Divisional CEO of Commercial Building Services at Grundfos, said: “We welcome the findings of the Cunliffe Report and its focus on making the UK’s water network more resilient. The emphasis on infrastructure renewal, smart planning and improved connectivity offers a vital opportunity to rethink how the sector operates for a new era.”

The Role of Innovation

The report recognises the importance of high-capacity pumping in enabling water transfers and calls for improved asset visibility and digital integration. Grundfos noted that these technologies, together with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, can help build more efficient, reliable and sustainable networks.

SCADA systems are already used widely in industry and can provide major benefits for water utilities, from optimising energy use to preventing failures through predictive monitoring. In addition, digital asset mapping offers the opportunity to create a complete picture of infrastructure such as pumps, reservoirs, tanks and pipelines, allowing performance to be monitored in real time and upgrades to be planned strategically.

Bent Jensen added: “Innovation and technology are central to widening the benefits of resilience. From regulatory sandboxes that allow new ideas to be tested in real-world conditions, to the deployment of proven digital tools, the recommendations in the report provide a constructive path forward.”

Grundfos said it looks forward to working with stakeholders across the sector to support the implementation of the report’s recommendations and to strengthen the resilience of the UK’s water networks.

Quick Reference Links

• Grundfos UK
• UK Government

Grundfos Welcomes Cunliffe Report on Strengthening the UK’s Water Network
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The Ofwat Innovation Fund has launched the sixth Water Breakthrough Challenge, offering up to £50 million in funding for collaborative projects that address the biggest challenges facing the water sector.

This is the first competition of AMP8, following the extension of the Ofwat Innovation Fund to 2030 with a total of £400 million of innovation funding. Entries are invited from water companies in England and Wales working in partnership with businesses, universities, charities and innovators from across sectors worldwide.

Projects may focus on achieving net zero, restoring nature, reducing leakage, tackling pollution, or lowering costs for customers. Solutions can range from advanced technologies and novel business models to new commercial practices, but must be led by a licensed water company.

The Water Breakthrough Challenge is delivered by Challenge Works in partnership with Arup and Isle Utilities. It includes two funding streams:

• Catalyst stream: Awards between £150,000 and £2 million. Entries close 6 January 2026.
• Transform stream: Awards between £2 million and £10 million. Stage 1 entries close 29 September 2025, with Stage 2 beginning 17 November 2025. Winners will be announced in May 2026.

Dr Jo Jolly, Ofwat’s Director of Environment and Innovation, said: “Since 2020, the Ofwat Innovation Fund has awarded £190 million to 109 projects involving more than 250 partners around the world. In this sixth Water Breakthrough Challenge, we’re drawing on diverse strengths and skills to develop ambitious answers to the challenges the water sector faces.”

Previous winning projects have included robots to improve chemical-free slow sand filtration, drones for coastal water quality monitoring, and AI to predict algal blooms. Partners in earlier rounds included NASA, international universities, and charities such as the Rivers Trust and Surfers Against Sewage.

The consultation period for entries is open until 29 September 2025 for the Transform stream and 6 January 2026 for the Catalyst stream. More details, including entry criteria and application forms, are available on the Water Innovation Challenges website.

Quick Reference Links

• Water Innovation Challenges
• Ofwat
• Challenge Works
• Arup
• Isle Utilities

Ofwat Launches Sixth Water Breakthrough Challenge with £50 Million Funding
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September 3, 2025 — Energy Recovery (NASDAQ: ERII) recently reported contract awards totaling approximately $31 million for its PX® Pressure Exchanger® (PX) energy recovery devices for multiple seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination projects in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and other GCC countries. Once completed, the plants will provide over 1.6 million cubic meters per day of fresh water to a hyper-arid region with a rapidly growing population. Energy Recovery is expected to fulfill contract orders by the end of Q4 2025.

This latest round of contracts underscores Energy Recovery’s long-time leadership in desalination innovation around the globe. With a reputation for durability and performance, their PX pressure exchanger technology provides plant operators with a reliable solution to drive down costs associated with energy-intensive SWRO plants. The combined plants in the Gulf region will save an estimated 1,724 GWh/year, which translates to 832,849 tons of CO2  annually.

“We continue to see increased competitiveness in desalination related technologies thus driving demand for our market leading suite of Energy Recovery PX products,” said Rodney Clemente, Senior Vice President of Water at Energy Recovery. “Fresh water is such a vital commodity that plant operators simply cannot risk downtime or unnecessary disruptions in production. The design of the PX gives it unmatched performance in harsh, corrosive environments. At the same time, it has the double benefit of saving operators money while minimizing harmful carbon emissions. Drought-prone regions around the world continue to trust our leading technologies to ensure plant owners are maximizing their operational savings and sustainability targets.”

Energy Recovery’s PX reduces energy use by up to 60% in SWRO desalination facilities, has a peak efficiency of 98%, and boasts an industry-leading 30-year design life with no scheduled maintenance.

Energy Recovery Awarded $31 Million in Desalination Contracts in the Gulf Region
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OTT HydroMet has launched a new self-contained Flood Monitoring System that offers accuracy and reliability, with installation and operation simplicity.

“In its recent ‘State of the UK Climate’ report, the UK Met Office warned: temperature and rainfall extremes are becoming the norm; as result, there is a growing demand for early warning systems, and the OTT FMS Flood Monitoring System has been designed to meet that need,” explains OTT’s Dr Liam Goodes.

The new OTT FMS includes an advanced radar level sensor, a datalogger, a modem and a compact solar/battery power supply. The system is compact, easy to install and can be operational within minutes of installation; monitoring water levels and providing timely warnings via cellular and internet communications. The system is ideal for both freshwater and saltwater environments.

The accuracy and reliability of the OTT FMS are underpinned by two extra anti-tamper internal sensors within the radar. A relative humidity sensor and an inclinometer continuously check that the radar sensor is operating correctly, and in its installed position – delivering meta data to confirm that water level measurements are correct.

With Bluetooth connectivity, the OTT FMS can be configured safely from a smartphone or laptop. Remote connectivity means that water managers can view data without having to make site visits, which saves costs and improves sustainability. 

“This instrument is a water manager’s dream,” Liam explains. “It’s quick and easy to install, it operates reliably and remotely with negligible maintenance, but sends immediate, advanced warnings of potentially dangerous situations, whilst delivering a long-term dataset to monitor trends. System metadata is a game-changer for hydrologists and network managers needing to diagnose site issues from their desks – particularly in very remote or vandalism-prone areas. We foresee a strong demand for these systems as the UK flips between flood and drought.”

New technology for flood/drought alerts
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This year, at the heart of London Climate Action Week, Blue Earth Forum, the official Innovation Hub of LCAW 2025 soared to even greater heights.

Returning this year with a bigger format, new global brand partnerships including headline partner, 1% for the Planet, and a relentless focus on solutions, the Forum tripled in size and ambition, cementing London’s place as the new global capital for climate-led business.

“We’re building a fairer, greener London and events like Blue Earth are central to that. Innovation, investment and action are on tap here. London is the place to be.” Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor for Business, London 

The ultimate climate ecosystem built for action

Over two action packed days and networking nights, Blue Earth Forum convened a powerful cross-section of the climate ecosystem: early-stage startups, institutional investors, major brands & business, policy leaders, media, and movement-makers. It wasn’t just about talking. It was about what happens next.

650 guests attended Blue Earth Forum’s Opening Reception before diving into two full days of bold discussions and business matchmaking. With DJs, super fuelled food, climate-conscious cocktails, and late-night connections, it was proof that purpose can be powerful and joyful.

A brand new Blue Earth Sessions series served a rich menu of inspirational and educational content. Business leaders as diverse as eBay, Klarna, Vodafone, Ovo, Ecologi, Greenvolt and Mastercard joined panel guests, to explore the sustainable future of food, energy, climate technology, materials and transport. Interspersed with experts sharing insights on deal flow, successful exits and net zero measures. The new Sessions sold out rapidly..

Day 1 included the launch of Destination Electric from OVO, unpacking the rapid shift to electric living; Circular by Nature with Woolmark, exploring regenerative materials and innovation in textiles; and Rewriting the Energy Playbook with Greenvolt, focused on decentralised power systems.

Meanwhile, HSBC Innovation Banking and BAE HQ hosted roundtables to explore how to unlock cross-sector innovation and fast-track capital into climate tech.

UnlockVC ignited Day 2 with a data packed  investor roundtable whilst  Investing in Nature: What Returns Can Investors Expect? brought together leaders from Ecologi, Triodos, Howden Group, and Oxygen Conservation to explore the case for investing in natural capital.

Impact investors met startups to supercharge solutions

Across both days, 50 handpicked startups pitched their solutions live, representing sectors from clean mobility to AI-powered climate insights. 

Investor panels featured major players including Energy Impact Partners, JamJar Investments, EKA Ventures, Triodos, Active Partners, Joelson, Box Fund, Foresight Group, Innovate UK, Carbon13, and many more.

“We’ve seen ambition on a whole new level. From the size of the Forum to the quality of conversations happening in every corner, it’s clear the movement is accelerating.”  Guy Hayler, COO, Blue Earth Ventures

From one-on-one investor meetings and high-stakes pitches to off-stage conversations in the breakout zones, the Forum was designed for momentum. And it delivered!

“The conversation has finally shifted—from awareness to real-world solutions. We’re proud to provide a platform for the world’s most exciting innovations in climate and impact.” Will Hayler, CEO, Blue Earth

Blue Earth Forum 2025 showed what’s possible when business, investment, and innovation align and Blue Earth Summit between 15 and 17 October will take connections to a whole new level. Building bridges between capital and ideas. The Summit creates space for truth-telling, solution-building, and celebration. And above all, the momentum will continue! 

For more information about Blue Earth Forum or  Blue Earth Summit press accreditation or access for interviews, contact Gaby Jesson, The Prospect Society (gaby@prospectsociety.com) 07768 024110

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Innovation, investment & insights in action at Blue Earth Forum 2025
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