https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/alj-energy-plans-carbon-neutral-desalination-plants-fueled-by-renewable-energy-1.697316
January 21, 2018
Updated: January 21, 2018 04:26 PM
Energy firms across the Middle East are looking for ways to make the desalination process less energy-intensive. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
Saudi developer Abdul Latif Jameel Energy (ALJ Energy) plans to use its renewable energy experience to develop carbon neutral desalination plants, as it pursues contracts in both sectors in markets including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
“We’re looking at working between [our] water and the power teams to develop a carbon neutral desalination approach, to be able to desalinate with renewable energy,” the company’s chief executive officer Roberto de Diego in an interview with The National.
The firm is “looking internally” at integrating solar and wind power solutions into desalination plants, which are typically highly energy-intensive.
“[It will] depend on the geographic conditions of where the desalination plant will be,” said Mr de Diego Arozamena.
“The solar or wind plant doesn’t necessarily have to be in the same place; [much depends on] the regulations to provide electricity to the desalination project.” he said.
ALJ Energy is among a number of local and international utility providers and energy firms hoping to benefit from the increasing privatisation of Saudi Arabia’s water and electricity distribution networks.
The country’s environment minister Abdulrahman Al Fadhli on Sunday announced plans to build nine desalination plants on the country’s Red Sea coast with a total capacity of 240,000 cubic metres of water per day, to be completed within 18 months.
Mr de Diego Arozamena said the firm is targeting both greenfield and brownfield desalination opportunities in the kingdom, including largescale projects in the industrial cities of Jubail, Yanbu and Rabigh.
ALJ Energy has also prequalified to bid for the world’s largest desalination facility in Abu Dhabi, a 200 million Imperial gallon-a-day project announced earlier this month by the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (Adwea).
