Blue Carbon Selected as a Qualified Team in XPRIZE Water Scarcity Competition

XPRIZE Water Scarcity | Revolutionizing Desalination for Global Water Use

MEDIA RELEASE

Brisbane, Australia — 22 September 2025

Blue Carbon has been selected as a Qualified Team in the prestigious XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, Track A – System-Level Innovation. 

This marks a significant milestone in Blue Carbon’s mission to address one of humanity’s greatest challenges: ensuring sustainable and equitable access to clean water.

As one of 143 teams progressing to the Qualified Team Testing Phase including 93 in Track A, Blue Carbon is honoured to contribute to the global effort to revolutionize seawater desalination technology. The title sponsor is the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, with a total prize purse of USD $119 million.

“Water scarcity is a global issue affecting billions of people. At Blue Carbon, our vision is to develop advanced ocean technologies that can support sustainable water access, marine ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience,” said Dr. Ana Novak, CEO of Blue Carbon.

About XPRIZE 

XPRIZE Water Scarcity is a $119 million, 5-year global competition made possible by the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. The prize is designed to revolutionize the desalination industry by spurring the innovation of reliable, sustainable, and affordable technologies. xprize.org/water

XPRIZE is the recognized global leader in designing and executing large-scale competitions to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. For over 30 years, our unique model has democratized crowd-sourced innovation and scientifically scalable solutions that accelerate a more equitable and abundant future. Donate, learn more, and co-architect a world of abundance with us at xprize.org. 

About Blue Carbon

Blue Carbon is an Australian climate tech company and global pioneer in marine carbon removal and ocean regeneration.

Our flagship innovations include the oPod™ product family—oPod Mini, oPod Aqua, and oPod Air—designed to adapt to diverse marine environments.

These autonomous, water- and solar-powered devices restore ocean health, support aquaculture, and enable scalable carbon sequestration by enhancing phytoplankton growth.

Notably, our oPods integrate seamlessly with desalination systems, significantly reducing energy consumption while minimizing environmental footprint. By improving water circulation and oxygenation, they reduce biofouling and energy requirements, contributing to more efficient, sustainable desalination operations.

Blue Carbon is helping shape a future where oceans are resilient, abundant, and vital to climate recovery.

Next Steps and Recognition

Blue Carbon is now preparing for the Qualified Team Testing phase and will continue refining our desalination-related innovations as part of the XPRIZE journey. We thank our partners, supporters, and investors for making this achievement possible.

Find out more : how oPods help desalination.