Solar-powered seawater desalination plant in Saudi Arabia
The Al-Khafji Solar Desalination Plant is a seawater reverse-osmosis (SWRO) facility located near Al-Khafji in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.[1] It is described in governmental and technical publications as one of the earliest large-scale desalination plants intended to operate primarily using solar photovoltaic (PV) power.[2] The project was developed under the King Abdullah Initiative for Solar Water Desalination, led by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).[3]
The King Abdullah Initiative for Solar Water Desalination was launched in 2010 with the aim of integrating renewable-energy technologies into national desalination processes.[4][5] The Al-Khafji project became the initiative's first large-scale implementation.[6] In 2015, Advanced Water Technology (AWT) and Abengoa began construction of the desalination plant and its 10-MW solar PV field.[7] Development took place between 2016 and 2018 using KACST-manufactured PV modules.[8]
Technology
The facility is powered by a 10-MW solar photovoltaic field located approximately 9km away, with modules designed by KACST to tolerate high temperatures, dust exposure, and strong solar radiation.[9][10] It operates in a hybrid configuration that relies on solar electricity during daylight hours and draws power from the national grid at night or during periods of low solar availability.[11] The desalination process employs a seawater reverse osmosis system with ultrafiltration pretreatment to enhance membrane efficiency and limit fouling.[12] This is followed by a two-stage reverse osmosis sequence supported by energy recovery devices and completed with post-treatment steps such as remineralization and pH adjustment.[13] The plant has a designed production capacity of about 60,000 to 90,000 m³ per day.[14][15]
Capacity and operation
According to Vision 2030 project materials, the Al-Khafji Solar Desalination Plant can supply drinking water for roughly 100,000 residents.[16][17] Solar PV provides daytime electricity, while the grid ensures continuous 24-hour operation.[18]
Environmental impact
Reports from KACST and Fanack Water indicate that solar-powered desalination can reduce fossil-fuel consumption and lower greenhouse-gas emissions associated with water production.[19][20] Solar generation displaces electricity that may otherwise come from oil or gas-fired power plants.[21]
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