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Water Footprint Implementation and OceansX Join for Water Innovation
On April 15, Water Footprint Implementation and OceansX-XCC officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This marks the beginning of a new collaboration to explore opportunities on how to create links to private co-funders for the Xploration Coastline Concept (XCC) using the Water Footprint Compensation Platform.
A collaborative step forward
By joining forces, the two organizations combine their knowledge, networks, and innovations to turn water scarcity into opportunity. Together, we bring expertise in sustainable water management and maritime technology to deliver inclusive, climate-resilient water solutions. In addition to technical solutions, the partnership also focuses on social innovations, developing and implementing practical projects that can be maintained in the long term and that respond to the needs of local communities.
What is XCC?
XCC is a floating, green-energy-powered desalination concept that produces large volumes of fresh water at sea, but also can be used in smaller volumes in case of rapid crisis response (during hurricanes). The concept is driven by including applied social innovation as the basic of water management solutions. It creates a long-term support for island development, including food security, health, and infrastructure resilience.
A recent Scoping Assessment, conducted by OceansX in collaboration with local ministries and supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, evaluated XCC’s potential across several Caribbean islands: Saint Kitts, Nevis, Sint Eustatius, Antigua, Barbuda, and Saba. Initial findings show promising impact, including:
- Strengthened water security through a low-carbon, adaptive freshwater supply
- Improved conditions for local food production and smarter use of alternative water sources
- Acceleration of nature-based solutions and stronger inter-island cooperation
- A socially-driven governance model that prioritizes innovation and community engagement
What’s next?
The cooperation between WFI and OceansX will focus on the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. WFI will calculate the Water Footprint Compensation capacity of the three planned XCC projects and place it on the WF Compensation Platform. Both organisations will approach businesses with a water footprint in the area of planned implementation and discuss with them how these kinds of projects could be interesting for them to co-invest in. Meanwhile OceansX and WFI will also brainstorm about the role of social inclusion within the comp
Now, it is time to build not only on technical innovation, but also on a possibility for social innovation, on the water footprint compensation platform.