SPAIN – The town of Estepona, Spain is planning an expedited construction of a seawater desalination plant to address water scarcity. The "express" installation is characterized by a shortened timeline, self-sufficiency in energy, and a containerized design. The plant, designed to produce 20,000 m3/d, could be expanded to 30,000 m3/d in the future. The chosen site is at the mouth of the Castor River, around 6.2 kilometers from Estepona, covering 53,442 square meters. The project is seen as a step toward self-sufficiency, freeing up resources for other municipalities and potentially serving as a model for a network of small desalination plants connected to the Acosol network. (Sur in English)
SPAIN – The Junta de Andalucía in Spain has approved the installation of portable desalination plants in Marbella and the Axarquía region. This decision is part of the fourth drought decree to be approved in the next year. These portable desalination plants, powered by photovoltaic panels, are in line with the 'Estepona solution,' involving the construction of a network of small municipal desalination plants. These modular plants, supported by Spanish companies like SETA PHT, can be quickly deployed and expanded, providing a rapid and scalable response to water scarcity. The Junta's backing is expected to expedite environmental permits for seawater intake and brine disposal, crucial for the swift implementation of the desalination solution. (SUR in English)
U.K. – South West Water's $168 million plans for two desalination plants have been delayed to next year, with the first site in Par, Cornwall expected to be online in 2024. The project aims to process 30,000 m3/d to increase resilience to drought, requiring eight miles of new pipework. Despite the delay, South West Water CEO Susan Davy is "very pleased" with the progress. The desalination plants are part of wider efforts to boost water supplies in Cornwall by up to 45%, addressing supply constraints. The Par site will be the second operational desalination plant on the mainland UK. (Utility Week)
SOUTH AFRICA – The dispute over the tender for a desalination plant at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town will be resolved through arbitration next year. The conflict arose after Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) terminated its water supply contract with the City of Cape Town, citing water contamination and an insufficient tender. The arbitration process is scheduled for March and April 2024. The desalination plant was decommissioned in 2022 following QFS's contract termination in 2019. Despite investing $107 million in water and sanitation infrastructure in the 2022/23 financial year, the City faced criticism for the lack of progress in projects since 2018, as water usage increased to 972,000 m3/d. (IOL)
MOROCCO – The 2022 Annual Report by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) of Morocco emphasizes the need for a national vision for seawater desalination as a solution to secure non-conventional water sources and address water security in the context of climate uncertainties. The report addresses the impact of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods, on Morocco, especially in the agricultural sector. The government has implemented measures like water interconnection projects and seawater desalination stations to address water scarcity challenges. Despite these challenges, Morocco secured the 7th position globally in the 2022 Climate Performance Index, attributed to its commitment to renewable energy and active participation in global climate efforts. (Morocco World News)
Ejaz Ahmed, member of the NYU research team that developed a new method to reduce membrane fouling in desalination plants. Credit: NYU Abu Dhabi
SCIENCE – A research team has developed a new type of "smart" dynamic membrane that could reduce fouling in desalination plants, potentially making the process more cost-effective. Fouling is a common issue that increases the cost of desalination, which is particularly crucial in regions like the Middle East and North Africa. The enhanced membrane, embedded with heat-sensitive crystals, demonstrated extended life and self-cleaning capabilities. These crystals, when activated by heat, enable the membrane to move, preventing fouling. Tests showed a 50% increase in membrane water capacity, and the researchers aim to scale up the technology with potential applications in potable water production. (Nature Communications)
MISCELLANEOUS – QUA Group, has introduced three innovative membrane technologies to diversify its product line. The FEDI GIGA is a next-generation Fractional Electrodeionization (FEDI) technology designed for high-flow ultrapure water production with minimal space requirements. EnviQ RF is a submerged ultrafiltration membrane that enhances membrane bioreactor (MBR) facility operation and maintenance, ideal for handling high-feed turbidity in challenging wastewater applications. Q-SEP Q-Connect offers a pre-engineered outside-in ultrafiltration rack solution with a reduced footprint, high flow, ease of installation, and containerization ability. These products aim to meet evolving customer needs across various water treatment applications, including industrial processes, seawater desalination, potable water production, and high-purity water generation. (Yahoo!finance)
U.A.E. – Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi has inaugurated the expansion of the Al Layyah Power and Desalination station in the emirate of Sharjah. The project costing $570 million brings the plant’s power capacity to a total of 1,026 megawatts. (ZAWYA)