Saudi Arabia plans giant solar-powered desalination equipment plant with Japan

Saudi Arabia, which depends on desalination for most of its fresh water needs, has implemented many ideas to make desalination a more economically viable and eco –friendly option, which includes setting up solar powered desalination plants. Recently, Saudi infrastructure developer ACWA Holding joined hands with Japanese companies, Toyobo and Itochu corporations to form the Arabian Japanese Membrane company. They plan to construct a plant to manufacture reverse osmosis membrane elements used for desalination. This $352 million facility will be the first plant to produce desalination equipment on such a large scale. It will also manufacture “hollow-fiber” membranes which have a variety of other applications apart from desalination of water. The company plans to make solar powered desalination equipment to realize the country’s aim of becoming a member of the International Renewable Energy Group (IRENA).

This plant, construction for which is supposed to start in 2011, will be a great factor in increasing water supply and reducing the high energy required for desalination in the region.
[greenprophet]