The project is designed to develop and demonstrate energy-efficient seawater desalination technologies efficient enough to be powered by renewable energy.
Each company will build and operate its own test plant to develop and demonstrate desalination technologies over the course of 18 months. As part of the pilot project, the four companies will also collaborate with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the research-driven graduate university in Abu Dhabi.
“We look forward to working with these four leading companies as they break ground on new desalination technologies,” said HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chairman of Masdar. “Seawater desalination is an energy intensive process that if left unchecked will become unsustainable over time. We must innovate and discover commercially viable solutions to meet our long-term water needs.
“Water security is one of the most pressing issues around the world,” said Dr Al Jaber. “But with the Gulf region’s climate we have limited natural options. Combining best-in-class desalination technologies with our abundant solar resources is a logical step toward securing our country’s water supplies.”
The pilot project test facility will be located in Ghantoot, 90 km northwest of Abu Dhabi. During the course of the project, the test plants will provide 1500 cubic metres of potable water per day to Abu Dhabi’s water infrastructure, enough to meet the water requirements for around 500 homes.
