Solar Water Plc, a UK-based innovator in water technology, has announced it will provide fresh water to NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s flagship giga-project, using the world’s first completely carbon-neutral desalination solution. Groundbreaking on the first hydrological dome is set to commence in December 2020, marking a significant milestone in sustainable water production for the arid Gulf region.
As cities across the Middle East expand, the demand for fresh water is rising dramatically. The region, which relies on desalination for up to 90% of its daily water needs, is home to 70% of the world’s desalination plants. However, traditional reverse osmosis technology is energy-intensive, contributing to a significant carbon footprint and releasing harmful brine back into the marine environment.
Solar Water Plc’s award-winning technology offers a revolutionary alternative. By mirroring the natural hydrological cycle, the system uses large parabolic mirrors to reflect the sun’s energy onto a glass and steel hydrological dome. This process heats the inflow of seawater, causing it to evaporate, condense, and precipitate as pure, clean water. The fresh water is then channelled to reservoirs for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use.
Crucially, the process creates no negative environmental impact. The salt residue is extracted as a commercial by-product, eliminating the release of brine into the ocean. The entire operation is powered exclusively by solar energy, making it 100% carbon-neutral and sustainable.
“Our ground-breaking, award-winning technology is 100% carbon neutral and totally sustainable,” said David Reavley, CEO of Solar Water Plc. “In NEOM we have a partner who has a strong vision of what a New Future looks like in harmony with nature. We are committed to help solve the global freshwater shortages with our sustainable solution and are on standby for further involvement with the region and its people.”
The NEOM project is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s vision to reduce its carbon footprint. The selection of Solar Water Plc’s technology, supported by the UK’s Department for International Trade, aligns with the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) broader strategy of shifting towards cleaner energy sources.
In addition to the NEOM project, Solar Water Plc is also partnering with the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC), the country’s largest exporter, to supply fresh water to its plant in Aqaba. This will not only grant JPMC water self-sufficiency for future expansion but will also free up an additional 2 million cubic metres of water for the city of Aqaba.
With traditional desalination plants forecast to generate 218 million tons of CO2 by 2040, Solar Water Plc’s innovation represents a new, sustainable paradigm for creating fresh water in the desert.
Source: https://www.events.great.gov.uk/ehome/gulftechcampaign/SolarWaterPlc
