Contract Awarded for Advanced Energy-Efficient Desalination Pilot Project in Abu Dhabi

Masdar1 awarded Degrémont (France) a contract for the project of construction of an advanced energy-efficient desalination pilot plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This contract is part of the Pilot desalination programme launched by Masdar to test and develop energy-efficient sea water desalination technologies which can be supplied by renewable energy sources. The longterm objective is to implement these technologies in desalination plants across the United Arab Emirates.   The contract covers the design, creation, supply, construction, installation, operation, maintenance and evaluation of a pilot desalination unit over a period of 18 months. Such a facility will offer more energy efficiency than current state-of-the-art desalination systems. Potentially powered by 100% renewable energy sources with minimal environmental impact, this innovation will be reliable, robust, and suitable for the seawater and environmental conditions in the United Arab Emirates. The cost of building and operating the desalination plant and all auxiliary facilities and services will be shared with Masdar. For this project, Degrémont, the reverse osmosis desalination world leader since 1969 with over 255 plants built, is bringing together some of its most advanced and innovative technological desalination partners and suppliers including Dow Water and Process Solutions with its advanced and innovative DOW Ultrafiltration and FILMTEC Reverse Osmosis membrane technologies, and ADIONICS with its innovative liquid/liquid deionisation technology, AquaOmnes.   Reliable and robust, Degrémont’s solution will demonstrate in the pilot phase that it can, on an industrial scale, significantly increase the overall recovery of a given treatment system while reducing OPEX and environmental impact. It will lower electrical energy consumption down to values never achieved before in reverse osmosis desalination plants. It will also add flexibility while considering a renewable energy sources matrix to power such an industrial plant.   After this first pilot phase, the second phase of the Program will be dedicated to the implementation of the energy-efficient desalination technology on a large-scale, thus developing seawater desalination plants fully powered by renewable energy. “We are very proud to have been selected to participate in Masdar Renewable Energy Seawater Desalination Program. As a world leader in water treatment we take innovation to heart to contribute to our clients strategy regarding their water challenges. Degrémont's teams are committed to making this Project not only a reality but also a remarkable first accomplishment of the Masdar/Degrémont partnership" says Rémi Lantier, CEO of Degrémont.