BW Offshore and maritime conglomerate BW Group have officially launched BW Elara, a 50/50 joint venture entity. The company will develop Floating Desalination Units (FDUs) capable of converting seawater into freshwater amid increasing global pressure on water resources.
The project builds on the combined experience of both partners: BW Offshore, with over 40 developed floating production units, will oversee hull design, construction and system integration. BW Water, an affiliate of BW Group with 35 years of desalination expertise, will design and build the treatment plant using its custom-engineered reverse osmosis systems.
An industrial response to water emergencies
BW Elara’s floating units aim to bridge the gap between permanent infrastructure, which is slow to deploy, and insufficient emergency solutions such as containerised systems. The first units can be fully operational within three months of contract signing, with a production capacity of 20 to 40 million litres of drinking water per day.
This modular solution is designed to meet urgent needs in municipal and industrial sectors, particularly in the event of drought, delays in land-based projects or temporary demand spikes. The identified market potential supports the joint venture’s ambition to develop a multi-regional fleet of FDUs.
Modular approach for accelerated deployment
The proposed operational model is based on a modular architecture integrating a proprietary seawater intake system and a flexible service supply offer. This approach targets both temporary industrial requirements and structural supply deficits faced by certain urban areas.
BW Offshore sees the deployment of floating desalination units as a natural extension of its offshore engineering capabilities. BW Water notes that strong interest from potential global clients confirms the relevance of this solution in the targeted markets.
