Voltea

What is it?

A Netherlands-based developer of a capacitive deionisation process for electrochemical desalination and water softening.

What has it done?

2017 saw Voltea’s capacitive deionisation (CapDI) technology take off as one of the most successful alternatives to reverse osmosis in recent years. It gained significant market traction in the industrial and commercial sectors, with over 100 systems being shipped. The company also closed a $10 million funding round to further accelerate its growth, and brought the full capacity of its robotic module assembly plant in Dallas online.

What makes it special?

The ability of the CapDI technology to fine-tune the level of salt removal from a feedwater stream has proven a winning factor for industries such as horticulture, as well as in the catering and hospitality sectors. The ability of the new DiUse point-of-use device to produce water with conductivity levels that can provide the perfect coffee brew helped grow Voltea’s order-book to well over 1,000 systems last year.

In 2017 Voltea shipped its largest system to date, a 475m³/d unit for use in South America’s largest data centre to condition the feedwater entering the cooling towers. The CapDI technology is becoming an increasingly attractive option for replacing traditional opex-heavy chemical treatment solutions for scale control.

Voltea brings a compelling value proposition to clients who have traditionally favoured RO, particularly given the need for less pretreatment and no remineralisation. The CapDI technology is currently outperforming RO and electrodialysis at a municipal pilot in Colorado, potentially paving the way for a full-scale contract involving a 4.8MGD (18,168m³/d) plant.

Moleaer

What is it?

A California-based developer of a revolutionary nanobubble technology for aeration in water and wastewater treatment.

What has it done?

Since launching its Nanobubble Generator product in June 2017, Moleaer has achieved outstanding growth, notching up nearly 50 commercial sales in just six months. Its nanobubble technology is revolutionising municipal and industrial wastewater aeration and dissolved air flotation systems for customers in the United States, Israel, Italy, Turkey and India.

What makes it special?

Due to their lack of buoyancy and an ability to increase gas holding capacity, the use of nanobubbles brings energy consumption for aeration down to new lows, thus overcoming a perennial pain point in the wastewater treatment process. Moleaer has demonstrated a reduction of up to 80% in energy usage and 86% oxygen transfer efficiency at an industrial scale.

Moleaer cut through the notoriously slow sales cycle of the water industry with a novel approach to doing business. Without the need for clients to replace their existing aeration system, the company can install a Nanobubble Generator in under an hour on a 30-day trial basis, with no customer commitment to a full purchase required.

Moleaer’s backers have unrivalled experience in the commercialisation and development of water technology, following a capital injection from Rusheen Capital Management during 2017. The investment vehicle is led by Jeff Green and Jim McDermott, the co-founders of NanoH2O, whose sale to LG Chem in 2014 is regarded as one of the most successful water technology exits in the last 15 years.