Solar Desalination Transforms Middle East Water Security
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Solar Desalination Transforms Middle East Water Security

As water scarcity intensifies in the Middle East, solar-powered desalination is emerging as a sustainable solution to meet rising demand. Traditional desalination methods, reliant on energy-intensive cogeneration, consume about 50% of primary energy in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and significantly contribute to carbon emissions. 

Solar-powered desalination offers a cleaner, cost-effective alternative. Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project, for example, is developing a fully solar-powered plant using Solar Dome technology, aiming to produce water at just $0.34 per cubic meter — far cheaper than conventional reverse osmosis. Similarly, solar-driven reverse osmosis can cut energy use by up to 75%. 

With global water demand projected to increase by 55% by 2050, Middle Eastern nations are accelerating renewable-powered water initiatives. Dubai is set to launch the world’s largest solar-powered desalination plant next year, producing 818,000 cubic meters of potable water daily with an $875 million investment. In Oman, TotalEnergies and Veolia plan a solar photovoltaic system for the Sharqiyah plant, serving 600,000 people. 

Despite challenges like high initial costs and the need for advanced storage systems, solar desalination is gaining traction. The Al Khafji plant in Saudi Arabia, commissioned in 2017, already produces 60,000 cubic meters of water daily. Public-private partnerships and technological innovations in AI and battery storage are further driving this shift, making solar desalination essential for sustainable water security in the region. 

(Mercom)       

As water scarcity intensifies in the Middle East, solar-powered desalination is emerging as a sustainable solution to meet rising demand. Traditional desalination methods, reliant on energy-intensive cogeneration, consume about 50% of primary energy in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and significantly contribute to carbon emissions. Solar-powered desalination offers a cleaner, cost-effective alternative. Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project, for example, is developing a fully solar-powered plant using Solar Dome technology, aiming to produce water at just $0.34 per cubic meter — far cheaper than conventional reverse osmosis. Similarly, solar-driven reverse osmosis can cut energy use by up to 75%. With global water demand projected to increase by 55% by 2050, Middle Eastern nations are accelerating renewable-powered water initiatives. Dubai is set to launch the world’s largest solar-powered desalination plant next year, producing 818,000 cubic meters of potable water daily with an $875 million investment. In Oman, TotalEnergies and Veolia plan a solar photovoltaic system for the Sharqiyah plant, serving 600,000 people. Despite challenges like high initial costs and the need for advanced storage systems, solar desalination is gaining traction. The Al Khafji plant in Saudi Arabia, commissioned in 2017, already produces 60,000 cubic meters of water daily. Public-private partnerships and technological innovations in AI and battery storage are further driving this shift, making solar desalination essential for sustainable water security in the region. (Mercom)       

Next Story
Equipment

Kobelco CE India Marks Milestone with 20,000th Excavator

Kobelco Construction Equipment India (KCEI), a subsidiary of Japan-based Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., has reached a significant production milestone by rolling out its 20,000th excavator at its manufacturing plant in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. This facility serves both domestic and international markets, reinforcing India’s role as a key production center for Kobelco.Takemichi Hirakawa, Managing Director & CEO, Kobelco Construction Equipment India, said, ""Reaching the 20,000th excavator production milestone reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality construction equipment...

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Cabinet Approves Highway from JNPA to Chowk in Maharashtra

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a 6-lane access-controlled Greenfield High-Speed National Highway from JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk in Maharashtra. The 29.219 km project will be developed on a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) toll model at an estimated cost of Rs 45 billion. As part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the project aims to enhance road connectivity to major ports, addressing increasing container traffic at JNPA and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. Currently, heavy co..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Effective Implementation of MGNREGA in the Last Decade

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), enacted in 2005, aims to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by guaranteeing at least 100 days of wage employment per year to willing adult members of rural households performing unskilled manual labour. Over the years, the government has significantly increased budget allocations for the scheme. From Rs 113 billion in 2006-07, the allocation rose to Rs 330 billion in 2013-14 and reached a record Rs 860 billion in 2024-25. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, the government spent Rs 1,110 billion under MGNREG..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?