Saudi Arabia is on the cusp of a revolutionary breakthrough in water production as top executives and industry leaders assert that the Kingdom can achieve a nationwide supply of clean water produced entirely by renewable energy-powered desalination.
Recent technological advances in energy storage and renewable energy systems make this vision more feasible than ever before.
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Technological Advances Driving Renewable Desalination
According to Mohammed Al-Hajjaj, CEO of Engie Saudi Arabia, technological advancements, particularly in energy storage solutions, have made fully renewable desalination a practical and affordable option.
He emphasized the importance of these developments during the Solar & Storage Live KSA exhibition, highlighting the country’s ongoing investments in renewable technologies.
“Energy storage is now more advanced, allowing us to store renewable energy and use it to power desalination plants even when there is no sunlight or wind,” said Al-Hajjaj.
The advances in solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage mean that 24/7 renewable desalination is no longer a distant dream but an achievable goal.
Desalination Plants |
Capacity (m³/day) |
Power Source |
|---|---|---|
Al-Khafji |
90,000 |
Renewable Energy (Solar) |
Jazlah |
600,000 |
Renewable Energy |
Yanbu 4 (in development) |
450,000 |
Renewable Energy |
Jubail 3B (in development) |
570,000 |
Renewable Energy |
Current and Future Projects
Saudi Arabia already operates several renewable energy-powered desalination plants, including the Al-Khafji and Jazlah facilities, with even more projects, such as Yanbu 4 and Jubail 3B, under development.
As part of its ambitious goal to decarbonize the entire energy grid, the Kingdom aims for a 50/50 mix of renewable and gas energy by 2030.
One of the key challenges that renewable energy faces is intermittency, the periods when solar panels are not producing energy at night, or wind turbines are inactive during calm periods.
To address this, Saudi Arabia is investing in large-scale battery storage systems, which store energy generated during peak times and distribute it when production is low.
Cost Considerations and Global Trends
While battery storage systems have historically been expensive, prices are falling dramatically, making large-scale renewable projects more affordable.
A report by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory predicts that battery prices will continue to drop through at least 2050, encouraging wider adoption of green desalination methods worldwide.
The global trend toward sustainable water production is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious target to add 20 GW of renewable energy capacity annually, a move that will significantly bolster the country’s renewable desalination projects.
Vision for the Future
With Saudi Arabia already recognized as a global leader in renewable energy projects, including some of the world’s largest solar power initiatives like the 1.5-GW Sudair and 2-GW Shuaibah 2, it is clear that the Kingdom is serious about achieving net zero emissions.
Integrating fully renewable desalination plants will be a cornerstone of this effort, ensuring that Saudi Arabia not only meets its water needs but does so in an environmentally responsible manner.
In the coming years, Saudi Arabia’s water production will likely serve as a global model for other nations striving to combine sustainable energy with essential services like desalination.
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