Active Membranes Secures First Commercial Sale for Smart Desalination Technology

Revolutionizing Desalination: How Electro-Active Membranes Turn Produced Water into a Sustainable Resource

In a milestone moment for sustainable water innovation, Active Membranes has announced its first commercial project using electro-active membranes, marking a pivotal step from pilot validation to commercial-scale implementation.

The agreement, signed with a private oil and gas company in Southern California, will see the deployment of a first-of-its-kind desalination and water reuse facility. This site will treat produced water from oilfield operations, transforming a challenging waste stream into a valuable and sustainable resource.

From Pilot Success to Commercial Reality

Under a five-year Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) contract, Active Membranes will install and operate a smart desalination system built on its patented electro-active reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology.

Unlike traditional membranes that passively filter water, electro-active membranes apply a low electrical potential across their surface. This creates a dynamic environment that repels scaling and fouling, the two most common causes of downtime and cost in conventional systems. The result: chemical-free operation, higher recovery rates, and lower energy use, redefining the economics and sustainability of desalination.

“Reaching commercial deployment within three years of our founding demonstrates both the maturity and scalability of our technology,” said Arian Edalat, CEO and Co-Founder of Active Membranes. “We’re proud to see our vision, making desalination more efficient, sustainable, and accessible, turning into reality in California, one of the world’s most water-stressed regions.”

Electro-Active Membranes and the Future of Produced Water Reuse

The project will treat produced water directly at its source, turning an operational byproduct into a reusable water supply for industrial and agricultural use. By combining electro-active membranes with process automation, the system integrates desalination and reuse in a single, compact operation, reducing chemical dependency and advancing the energy-water nexus that links cleaner energy with sustainable water recovery.

A representative from the project partner emphasized the shared vision:

“Their technology offers a practical and economical solution for produced water reuse, turning an operational challenge into a valuable resource for California’s water future.”

A New Era for Sustainable Desalination

This commercial project builds on a series of global pilot demonstrations that confirmed the efficiency, durability, and cost advantages of electro-active membranes. Across diverse feedwaters, from brackish groundwater to seawater, the technology consistently reduced chemical use, minimized downtime, and extended membrane lifespan.

For Active Membranes, this milestone represents not just a business success, but the realization of a mission: to make desalination smarter, cleaner, and more accessible across industries and geographies.