Press Releases
September 22, 2026
Aquafortus Named one of the Ten Most Promising Companies by the investors at the 2026 Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum
Investors recognize ABX™ non-thermal desalination platform among top 10 of 97 energy tech ventures in Houston
HOUSTON, TX / AUCKLAND, NZ, September 2026. Aquafortus Technologies has been named one of the 10 Most Promising Companies at the 23rd annual Energy Tech Venture Forum (ETVF), hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
The forum brought together 97 ventures across energy tech, including carbon management, energy storage, critical minerals, advanced materials, grid modernisation and industrial efficiency. Presenting companies have collectively raised more than US$1 billion. The investors in attendance chose the 10 Most Promising Companies.
The Rice Alliance recognized Aquafortus as a deep-tech water company whose non-thermal desalination technology significantly lowers the cost of treating the world’s toughest brines. That capability opens a global market estimated at US$100 billion.
Solving the salt problem
Many produced water and industrial wastewater solutions stop at separating oil from water. That leaves behind high concentrations of dissolved salts, which limit reuse and drive costly disposal. Aquafortus goes further.
Its ABX™ platform is a non-thermal, liquid-phase desalination technology. It is designed to treat hypersaline brines and recover clean water suitable for industrial reuse. The platform supports Minimal and Zero Liquid Discharge outcomes, as well as brine valorisation and critical minerals recovery. This positions produced water and other difficult brines as a resource rather than a waste stream.
Houston is at the centre of the energy industry’s water challenge, and Aquafortus is focused on helping operators turn their most difficult brines into clean water they can actually reuse.
The recognition comes as water-intensive industries face growing pressure on supply, disposal and sustainability. These include oil & gas, data centers, mining and advanced manufacturing. Aquafortus continues to expand its presence in Texas and the wider United States to support operators seeking scalable, cost-effective brine treatment.
March 02, 2026
Aquafortus and GS E&C Collaboration Agreement
We’re pleased to announce that AquaFortus has signed a collaboration agreement with GS E&C in the Republic of Korea to advance next-generation treatment solutions for secondary battery wastewater.
As battery manufacturing scales globally, so does the production of high-salinity industrial wastewater. Treating these complex streams cost-effectively while generating clean water for reuse is becoming essential to sustain the energy transition.
This collaboration brings together:
- Aquafortus’ non-thermal ABX™ Technology Platform, World’s first non-thermal crystallizer, engineered to treat hypersaline and complex industrial brines with low energy intensity — enabling true Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) for challenging industrial streams
- GS E&C’s engineering expertise and global infrastructure capabilities, enabling deployment at commercial scale
Together, we aim to deliver scalable, energy-efficient wastewater treatment solutions that reduce concentrated brine volumes, recover reusable water, and achieve ZLD performance for industrial brines.
This partnership reflects a broader reality: industrial growth requires water solutions that eliminate liquid waste, not just manage it.
February 14, 2026
Aquafortus Technologies Moves to Commercialization
A recent Midland Reporter-Telegram article highlights an important milestone for Aquafortus: the transition from technology validation to full commercialization.
After successfully testing across 16 different brine streams with consistent results, Aquafortus is now moving to large-scale deployment. As disposal capacity tightens, seismic concerns increase, and pore space becomes more constrained, scalable treatment solutions are no longer optional – they are strategic.
Aquafortus also announced the appointment of Hoshang Subawalla as CEO, bringing decades of leadership experience from GE, Suez, and Veolia as Aquafortus enters this next phase of growth. With expanded commercial and financial leadership, the focus is clear: execute at infrastructure scale.
Produced water is one of the defining challenges – and opportunities – of the Permian Basin.
February 6, 2026
Aquafortus Enters Global Infrastructure Phase Appoints Dr. Hoshang Subawalla as CEO
Aquafortus, the pioneer in non-thermal, non-membrane brine concentration, announced the appointment of Dr. Hoshang Subawalla as Chief Executive Officer. The appointment signals a strategic inflection for the company as it moves past technology validation to building and operating large-scale infrastructure projects in O&G Produced Water, Mining, and hypersaline industrial wastewater markets across four continents.
Dr. Subawalla is a PhD Chemical Engineer who brings a rare combination of deep technical domain experience and seasoned operational leadership to the role. With over two decades of global executive experience at industry giants GE, Suez and Veolia, he has a proven track record of managing large-scale, complex water platforms across diverse international markets. His unique background as both a scientist and a high-level operator makes him uniquely qualified to lead AquaFortus as it deploys its revolutionary desalination technology at an infrastructure scale.
“Hoshang is the exact leader we need for the next phase of Aquafortus,” said Earl Jones, DCVC Operating Partner and AquaFortus Executive Chair. “We’ll always be a chemistry company at our core, but our future is building large-scale infrastructure. Hoshang is a seasoned global leader with deep technical experience and the proven ability to build world-class global teams that deliver results.”
“AquaFortus has the first truly transformational approach to brine concentration in decades,” said Dr. Subawalla. “With a 70% cost advantage over traditional brine concentration and the world’s only non-thermal crystallizer, we aren’t just improving the industry, we are rewriting the economics of desalinating hyper saline wastewater. The team at Aquafortus is outstanding and I am thrilled to lead them as we deploy our solutions at a scale, transforming costly industrial liabilities into strategic water resources.”
Stay up to date
October 17, 2025
Texans Vote on State’s Water Supply
No new taxes would be collected for the package that would give the state’s water department $1 billion to spend on projects like cleaning salty water, flood control and reservoirs.
October, 2025
Industry Makes Progress on Turning Produced Water Into Much-Needed Resource
ODESSA, TX.—Many Permian Basin wells produce five or more barrels of water for every barrel of oil. In aggregate, they bring more than 20 million barrels of produced water to surface every day. For context, that is enough to fill 1,270 Olympic swimming pools. For years, the solution seemed simple: pipe the water to a saltwater disposal well and inject it underground.
August 14, 2025
Produced Water Will be Factor in WTI Pricing
Robert Crain, executive vice president, Texas Pacific Water Resources, told the Produced Water Society’s 10th annual Permian Basin conference produced water will be a huge factor in WTI pricing.
July 26, 2024
Disaster Declaration After 5.1 Earthquake, 60 Other Earthquakes
After being hit by a third major earthquake that was felt around West Texas this week, the Scurry County judge has issued a disaster declaration.
July 23, 2024
Rash of Earthquakes Blamed on Oil Production, Including a Magnitude 4.9 in Texas
Three earthquakes that struck west Texas on Monday – including a magnitude 4.9 quake – are all linked to local oil production.
