2024-03-22 21:48:03
It is an engineering startup that has developed a batch reverse osmosis water purification technology that uses half the energy of traditional methods.
Salinity Solutions, a UK-based water engineering technology startup, closed an investment by SQM Lithium Ventures of US$ 1.27 millionto finance your next stage of growth.
This startup developed a revolutionary water treatment technology known as batch reverse osmosisthe first in the world to be marketed for water treatment.
The technology developed by Salinity Solutions uses less energypurifies wastewater better, generates less waste, is portable and more compact than traditional reverse osmosis systems.
“SQM Litio’s investment will help us accelerate growth Salinity already achieve our 2024 goals increase unit sales and secure our first licensing agreement,” said Salinity Solutions CEO Richard Bruges.
In addition to the capital, SQM Lithium Ventures will provide a strategic view for scaling of this startup at a global level, with the option of making a subsequent investment in the future.
The Salinity Solutions team will carry out a pilot at the SQM Litio facilities in the Salar de Atacama, with its team working from Antofagasta and other locations in northern Chile.
“Its strategic interests in lithium and water, combined with its geographic reach from Chile to China, offer a perfect fit to support our ambitious growth plans,” said Bruges.
Since launching in 2021, Salinity Solutions has conducted testing in various industries, including lithium mining, municipal and industrial wastewater, and food production.
For her part, the director of SQM Lithium Ventures, Ángeles Romo, expressed: “We are very happy to join the water treatment business through this international alliance. Our experience in the execution of innovation, construction and scaling of cutting-edge industrial projects you can support Salinity to succeed in achieving their next technical and commercial objectives.”
SQM Lithium Ventures is the corporate venture capital of SQM’s Lithium business, one of the world’s leading producers of lithium chemicals suitable for batteries. Salinity Solutions joins SQM Lithium Ventures along with other leading companies in the lithium, water and electromobility verticals, such as Altilium Clean Technology (UK) and Electric Era (USA).
This investment is aligned with the environmental objectives of SQM Litio, which considers reduce groundwater use, reduce brine extraction in the Salar de Atacama and reach the carbon neutrality in lithium production.
“At SQM Lithium Ventures we are strongly committed to cleantech initiatives, and specifically in water. We seek to support them in the scaling of their businesses, but also, through them, contribute to the quality of life of multiple communities,” stated Mark Fones, vice president of Strategy and Lithium M&A at SQM.
While the co-founder and CTO of Salinity Solutions, Tim Naughton, stated that we are “delighted to have SQM Litio as a partner as we commercialize our world-leading technology. Working with SQM Litio, we can bring significant energy and water savings to the mining sector and many other industries, in Chile and around the world.”