UKRAINE – German company Boreal Light has installed what it claims is Europe's largest solar water desalination system in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, with a capacity of 460 kWp. Initiated in response to the Russian attack on Ukraine, the system, with 560 W monocrystalline PV modules, can produce 3,000 m3/d of clean water. The source water has a salinity of up to 13,000 parts per million. Divided into five units for security reasons and higher project resilience, the system stores clean water instead of energy and utilizes a control mechanism to manage voltage distribution. Water production costs approximately $0.24 per cubic meter, with a minimum system lifetime of 25 years. (PV magazine)
SAUDI ARABIA – ACWA Power, a global renewable energy and green hydrogen leader, has signed agreements totaling $746 million at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. A $500 million agreement with EIG, a major institutional investor, will focus on power generation, water desalination, green hydrogen, and green ammonia projects in Gulf countries and Uzbekistan. ACWA Power also secured $246 million in project financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) and the OPEC Fund for a 240 MW wind power project in Azerbaijan, supporting the country's renewable energy goals. The project is expected to power nearly 300,000 households and reduce carbon emissions by over 400,000 tonnes annually. ACWA Power's collaborations reflect its commitment to global sustainability and clean energy solutions. (Solarquarter)
U.K. – South West Water (SWW) has delayed its plans for a desalination plant in Cornwall until the summer of 2024 due to land sale issues. Initially planning for two plants, SWW now confirms one at Par, utilizing seawater from St. Austell Bay. The project aims to provide 30,000 m3 of additional drinking water to enhance resilience against climate change. However, environmental groups like Greenpeace suggest prioritizing fixing leaks instead, citing desalination as a last resort. The Par plant will draw seawater from St. Austell Bay and return brine over 2km into the sea. (BBC)
The Cornwall desalination plant will draw seawater from St. Austell Bay. Credit: BBC
U.K. – Anglian Water has selected Caister-on-Sea as the proposed location for a desalination plant, aiming to alleviate the water crisis in the region. The proposed $516.9 million project is part of Anglian Water's $12.06 billion investment and could produce 25,000 m3/d. Norfolk has on average a third less rainfall than the rest of the UK but demand is increasing due to major growth in the region The desalination plant aims to reduce abstractions from sensitive environments, enhance resilience to climate change and drought, and address a potential water shortfall in the future. The plant would also represent the first arrival to the coast of what is a burgeoning industry, with proposals to build another site in Felixstowe and two new reservoirs in the region. (Great Yarmouth Mercury)
SOUTH KOREA – The Saline Water Conversion Corp. (SWCC) in Saudi Arabia has entered into partnerships with South Korean companies DL E&C and Taekyung Group to advance desalination technology through renewable energy applications. The SWCC-DL E&C collaboration will explore the implementation of small modular reactors (SMRs) for sustainable heat in desalination, as well as research into clean hydrogen and ammonia production using SMRs. The Saline-Taekyung agreement will focus on a project involving brine water and carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology, aiming to extract high-purity calcium carbonate from cement waste using brine water from desalination. Both partnerships aim to contribute to sustainable desalination methods and address climate change impacts. These eco-friendly technologies may be applied in Saudi Arabia's NEOM city. (Solarquarter)
INDIA – The estimated cost of Mumbai's first desalination project has increased from $500 million in 2021 to $1.2 billion in 2023. The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) is finalizing tenders for the ambitious project, set to produce 200,000 m3/d of potable water from the sea at Manori. Initially supplying water to Kandivli and Borivli, the project's capacity can later expand to 400,000 m3/d. The increased estimated cost includes $275 million for the construction of the 200,000 m3/d plant and significant expenses for electricity, maintenance, and asset replacement over 20 years. Tenders are expected to be floated next month, with completion anticipated within four years. (Mid-day)
PAKISTAN – The Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) has initiated a water supply project for the Gwadar Free Zone North, covering an area of approximately 2221 acres, with a completion timeframe set for January 2024. The project will utilize two water sources: a 5,455 m3/d seawater desalination plant completed on June 30 in the Gwadar Port area and the old Airport’s water supply line network connected to Shadi Kor Dam and Sawar Dam with a storage capacity of 21,198 m3/d. The water distribution network will benefit industries such as Agvon and Hangeng initially, providing 400 m3/d, with additional industries in Gwadar Free Zone North slated to benefit in the future. The seawater desalination plant received a grant of $12.6 million from China, and its central room is now operational after completing civil, mechanical, and electrical work. (Pakistan Today)