AUSTRALIA – The Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel has unanimously approved the Water Corporation's $1.6 billion desalination plant in Alkimos, marking a significant step toward securing Perth's water supply. The Alkimos plant will be on Water Corp’s 218 ha site next to the Alkimos Wastewater Treatment Plant in the future Alkimos Water Precinct. The project, the first desalination facility in Perth's northern corridor, aims to address the impact of climate change on traditional water sources. Perth's dams have experienced an 83% reduction in streamflow compared to the 1970s. The plant will draw seawater from the ocean floor and is expected to be completed in two stages, with the first stage finishing by June 2028 and the second by 2032. (Perth Now)
EGYPT – To address water stress in Egypt, the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) is pursuing seawater desalination using thermodynamic solar energy for new towns in the north-west. The EEHC launched the second phase of a call for tenders for five concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in a public-private partnership, involving companies like Aqualia, Scatec, Engie, Amea Power, and Toyota Tsusho. With an investment of $270 million, the goal is a combined capacity of 250 MW to provide clean electricity for 25 years, supporting desalination plants with a total capacity of 400,000 m3/d. Egypt is diversifying into thermodynamic solar power plants, which, although slightly costlier, offer increased efficiency by supplying electricity after sunset compared to photovoltaic solar plants. Egypt had explored CSPs previously and partnered with Smart Engineering Solutions in 2019, but no plants were commissioned. The EEHC initiative signals the country's entry into solar energy production through CSPs. (Afrik21)
SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture Sector and Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) are set to initiate the tendering process for the Al Shuqaiq 4 Independent Water Plant (IWP) project in the first quarter of 2024. The project involves the construction of a 400,000 m3/d desalination plant under a build-own-operate (BOO) contract for 25 years. The Expression of Interest is expected to be announced by the end of the first quarter of 2024. The overall project completion and commissioning are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. (ZAWYA)
SAUDI ARABIA – Red Sea Global (RSG) has signed a 25-year concession agreement with EDF and Masdar to develop a solar-powered water treatment system for the Amaala luxury tourist project in Saudi Arabia. The project involves a solar farm, battery storage system, desalination plant, and wastewater treatment facility. The desalination plant will produce 37,000 m3/d. The solar farm is expected to generate up to 410,000 MWh per year, sufficient for 10,000 households. The battery system will store 700 MWh to ensure a continuous power supply. The project aims to make Amaala a zero-carbon resort when fully operational. (Global Construction Review)
Amaala’s Triple Bay area, Saudi Arabia. Credit: (GCR)
PHILIPPINES – A solar-powered desalination water system project has commenced in Barangay Cataban, Talibon, Bohol, benefitting 5,199 residents on the island. The $240,000 project, funded by the World Bank and Department of Agriculture under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), aims to provide clean water using renewable energy. The provincial government of Bohol has allocated additional funds for the initiative to ensure sufficient water access across various regions, including islands and barangays. (Manila Bulletin)
SCIENCE – A team of researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi has developed a self-cleaning hybrid membrane for desalination, addressing fouling challenges that have limited conventional desalination technologies. Membranes used in desalination often face fouling, leading to decreased performance and the need for chemical cleaning. The team created a hybrid membrane by embedding stimuli-responsive materials called thermosalient organic crystals in polymers. These crystals, capable of sudden expansion or motion upon temperature changes, enable the membrane to self-modulate its pore size and surface properties in response to temperature changes. The self-cleaning "gating" process increased desalinated water flow by over 43% through osmotic distillation, extending the membrane's operational lifetime. (PHYS ORG)