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
Infrastructure Urban

India Spent Rs 1.5 Tn on Smart Cities in Past 10 Years

The Indian government launched the Smart Cities Mission on June 15, 2015, with the goal of transforming urban infrastructure across the country. As of April 11, 2025, ten years since its inception, over Rs 1.5 trillion has been spent on 7,504 completed projects, representing 94 per cent of the total planned projects valued at more than Rs 1.64 trillion. An additional Rs 131.42 billion worth of projects are currently under implementation. According to data from SBI Research, 92 per cent of the funds were utilised across 21 major states, with Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra together ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Hyundai’s EcoGram Converts Gurugram’s Waste to Clean Energy

Hyundai’s EcoGram, a biogas plant and material recovery facility located in Gurugram, Haryana, has been established to support circular economy initiatives. The facility collects both wet and dry waste from 20 bulk waste generators, including residential welfare associations (RWAs), corporate offices, and commercial complexes, with assistance from the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG). At the facility, the collected waste undergoes processing—wet waste is converted into biogas, which is then used to generate electricity, while dry waste is sorted for recycling. Since its inception,..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Metro Line 8 DPR Nears Completion; CIDCO to Float Rs 200 Bn Tenders

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is nearing completion of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Metro Line 8, commonly known as the Gold Line. This strategic 34.9-kilometre corridor is set to link Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Estimated to cost around Rs 200 billion, the project is being developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Once completed, Metro Line 8 will become Mumbai's second such corridor after Metro Line 1. CIDCO plans to float tenders once ..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?