U.K. – South West Water (SWW) has selected Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions to deliver Cornwall's first seawater desalination plant. The project, part of a $159 million investment by SWW, includes plans for water treatment works at Restormel. The desalination process involves initial treatment at a plant based in Par, followed by a secondary treatment phase at Restormel, providing water to around 300,000 people in Cornwall. Some locals express concerns about the chosen location, citing potential impacts on wildlife, including the UK's largest seagrass beds in St Austell Bay. SWW emphasizes public engagement before submitting a planning application. (BBC)
SPAIN – Portable desalination units are being introduced to the Costa del Sol in response to the ongoing drought in the Malaga province. Estepona mayor José María García Urbano proposed the idea, based on a project by water company Hidralia, which is now part of the Junta's drought decree. The portable units vary in size, ranging from a 700 m3/d unit costing $382,760 to 5,000 m3/d units that can serve 41,000 inhabitants at a cost of $3.1 million. Delivery time for these units is around five to six months, including manufacturing, transportation, and installation, with training provided during the final phase. (SUR in English)
The Junta de Andalucía has proposed a comprehensive desalination master plan to Spain's national government, aiming to address the drought crisis in Andalucía. Junta president Juanma Moreno presented the plan during his visit to Dubai for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he toured a major desalination plant. The proposed plan involves building new desalination plants in the region by 2027, spanning from Huelva to Almeria. (SUR in English)
PALESTINE – The UAE has inaugurated the first of three desalination plants near Rafah on the Egyptian side of the border to provide clean water to Gaza. Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE ambassador to the UN, launched the plant as part of efforts to address the dangerous shortage of drinkable water in Gaza. The plants are expected to supply treated water at a rate of 2,271 m3/d, sending them through a network of pipes throughout Gaza supplying 300,000 Gazans daily. The initiative aims to improve efficiency by delivering water directly to Gaza, reducing reliance on truck transport. The desalination plant is considered essential for reducing illness and disease, particularly among children. (The National News)
The Hamriyah Power and Desalination Station in Sharjah, U.A.E. Credit: Besix
U.A.E. – Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, laid the foundation stone for the new Al Hamriyah desalination plant project valued at $449.27 million. During the ceremony, Sheikh Sultan discussed various water projects across Sharjah, including those in Khorfakkan, Kalba, Al Dhaid, and Sharjah. The Al Hamriyah desalination plant project aims to increase production capacity to 416,395 m3/d and has a storage capacity of 340,687 m3, emphasizing energy efficiency with consumption not exceeding 3.2 kilowatts per hour per cubic meter water. (Gulf Today)
SINGAPORE – The solar panel and desalination project on Kusu Island, a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), has been successful and is becoming a model for similar initiatives in the Southern Islands. Operational since 2020, the island's power generation relies solely on over 350 solar panels in the tidal pond, eliminating the need for diesel-powered generators for two years. The stored energy powers essential facilities on the island, including a pioneering desalination system using reverse osmosis to produce potable water for up to 140 people daily. The success of the technology on Kusu Island provides a blueprint for replication, with Pulau Hantu Besar set to adopt a similar system next year. (The Independent Singapore)
U.S.A. – The environmental agency in Texas has approved the issuance of a draft permit for discharge at the proposed desalination plant site on Corpus Christi's Northside. The water rights permit for the Inner Harbor site was granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in October 2022, but a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit is still pending. City officials are awaiting the completion of additional information requested by the federal agency to expedite the permit process. The Inner Harbor site, aiming to generate water at rate of 75,708 to 113,562 m3/d, is one of two locations under consideration for desalination operations, with permits for this site currently undergoing state review. (Caller Times)
U.A.E. – ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services, has launched its Desalination Center of Excellence to address the critical need for sustainable water solutions. The initiative, aligned with ENGIE's commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2045, was launched at COP28 in the UAE. The Center aims to secure access to sustainable water, leveraging ENGIE's desalination expertise to drive strategic and operational decisions. With ENGIE currently producing 5,800,000 m³/d of desalinated water daily, the Center is positioned to play a crucial role in meeting the growing global demand for water. It aspires to be a global example for excellence in desalination, focusing on research, innovation, education, and collaboration to promote sustainable water solutions. (ZAWYA)