U.S.A. – California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California is investing $5 million in three new desalination projects in a bid to protect the state’s water resources from the effects of climate-driven weather extremes. The funds will go to projects in Los Angeles, Fresno and Mendocino counties and will support the design of three different type of desalination facilities. California is working to expand its brackish groundwater desalination production by 94,623 m3/day by 2030.
The Water Replenishment District of Southern California Construction project in the City of Torrance, in Los Angeles County, will construct a conveyance pipeline to connect an existing well to the existing Goldsworthy Desalter system.
In Fresno County, the Westlands Water District Design Pilot Project will desalinate brackish groundwater from the west side upper aquifer and use salt-tolerant plants to remove salts from the brine. The project will provide fresh water to the district and the communities of Coalinga, Huron, and Avenal.
Near the City of Fort Bragg, the City of Fort Bragg Design Pilot Project will install a wave-powered seawater desalination iceberg buoy to provide potable water to residents. The project will diversify the city’s water supply and create a sustainable potable water source without using grid electricity. (California Globe)
U.A.E. – Abengoa has launched commercial operation of phase two of the Taweelah desalination plant in Abu Dhabi. This is the first project to combine the production of drinking water with the generation of clean energy. The plant, with a production capacity of 909,218 m3/day, is the largest seawater desalination plant in the world and is located at the Taweelah power and water generation complex, 45 km north of Abu Dhabi.
Abengoa’s scope of work at the Taweelah plant included the design, engineering supply of the main equipment, supervision of assembly, commissioning, start-up of the reverse osmosis and post-treatment systems and advice on the pre-treatment process carried out by third parties. The Taweelah desalination plant has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Global Water Awards, in the Desalination Plant of the Year category. (Marketscreener)
Floating photovoltaic units of the Axarquina desalination project proposal from Trops, Tedagua and the University of Malaga, Spain. Credit: SUR
SPAIN – The Junta de Andalucia is expected to make its final decision before the summer on the three projects competing for the Axarquina desalination plant contract. One proposal came from Acciona in July last year requesting to grant a contract for irrigation and supply to towns through a treatment plant in Velez-Malaga. The other proposal is from Magtel and another one from an alliance formed by Trops, Grupo Cobra and the University of Malaga.
The plant proposed by Acciona would be located on the right bank of the final stretch of the Velez river and would have an initial capacity of 68,493 m3/day, with the option to expand to 102,739 m3/day. The project would cost $110 million, provided by Acciona without need for external financing and construction of the plant would take about two and a half years.
The project led by Trops, The Institute of Domotics and Energy Efficiency of the University of Malaga and Tedagua is planned for the mouth of the Velez river and would have an initial production capacity of 109,589 m3/day which could be expanded later to 164,383 m3/day. The project’s estimated budget would be $159 million, including the creation of an innovative floating photovoltaic plant on the waters of the La Vinuela reservoir.
The plant proposed by Magtel would be located next to the Velez-Malaga sewage treatment plant and would cost $110 million. The facility would have an initial capacity of 109,589 m3/day, with the option to expand 164,383 m3/day, of which a quarter would be used for domestic supply and the remaining for irrigation. Upon winning the concession, Magtel expects construction of the project to start as soon as December 2023 and the plant could be producing water by the beginning of 2026. (SUR in English)