SolarDew, a Dutch developer of innovative solar-powered water purification technology, recently raised €800K in funding from Connect the Drops, a Dutch investor in early-stage startups in the water sector, and Oost NL, the regional development agency of the Dutch provinces Gelderland and Overijssel, which invested for the second time.
The company’s goal is to provide one million people with access to clean drinking water by 2035.
The scarcity of clean drinking water is a growing global issue, particularly in rural areas, where 80 per cent of the population lacks access to safe drinking water (CFR). In addition, water sources are becoming increasingly saline and polluted.
“Our market forecasts show that by 2030, more than 100 million people will be in need of an alternative source for clean drinking water,” said Alexander van der Kleij, CEO of SolarDew.
Current solutions, such as purchasing bottled water or transporting water over long distances, are unsustainable and fail to provide a long-term solution to water scarcity. In addition, existing water purification and desalination technologies are often designed for large-scale applications, making them complex to operate and maintenance-intensive.
As a result, these technologies are less suitable for smaller communities, schools, medical clinics, and businesses in remote, coastal, and arid areas (JPHE).
SolarDew has developed a water purification technology that uses evaporation and condensation through a membrane to purify polluted water or seawater and safely produce high-quality drinking water.
Because the technology operates solely on solar thermal energy and gravity, it is an extremely simple solution that requires no high pressure, electricity, or chemicals. In addition, the water stations require very little maintenance. Depending on solar irradiation, a station comprising approximately 32 units can produce about 100 litres of clean drinking water per day.
Following several successful pilots, SolarDew started industrial production last year. The company manufactured 150 units and established a strong supply chain with European manufacturers. The company also secured a patent for its technology in the Netherlands, with European and international patents expected by the end of the year. The funding will be used to further scale up its industrial production, which started earlier this year.
The first two projects have been realised in Chile, in collaboration with a local hydroponics entrepreneur (growing plants in water), and in Greece, together with the Technical University of Crete. SolarDew aims to install the next commercial projects before the end of 2026.
According to Van der Kleij:
“Over the past year, we have built a strong foundation with our scalable technology, strong partnerships, and the first projects that demonstrate the necessity of our solution.
Our goal now is to continue to scale and create lasting impact by providing clean drinking water to communities and businesses worldwide - thereby contributing to improved living conditions and economic growth.”
“SolarDew has developed a proven, scalable solution to one of the world's most underserved markets. This is a natural addition to Connect the Drops' mission to deliver water solutions across the globe,” said Jan Otto Ooms, Founder of Connect the Drops.
SolarDew is currently raising additional funding through a crowdfunding campaign on Republic Europe.
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