The worldwide lowest specific energy consumption measured in a seawater desalination plant – Real integration and opportunities of improvement

Ocean acidification, rising sea temperatures, and changes in seawater composition are mainstream effects of climate change. Nevertheless, seawater desalination projects, plant designs, simulations, and experimental studies largely ignore these long-term...

Impact of desalination on the general circulation of the Arabian Gulf: Present and future scenarios.

The Gaza Strip faces a dual challenge of severe freshwater scarcity and chronic electricity shortages, constraining the operation of critical infrastructure such as seawater desalination plants. This study investigates the design and feasibility of integrating a solar photovoltaic (PV) system into the Deir El-Balah seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant to enhance sustainability, reduce dependency on external electricity supplies, and minimize environmental impacts. Using the Helioscope simulation tool, both on-grid and off-grid scenarios were evaluated to assess system performance under local solar conditions. The optimized design requires 2,663 Canadian Solar HiKu CS3W-415P modules with Enphase M250 inverters, yielding a total installed capacity of 1.11 MWp and an AC output of 639 kW. Modules were allocated across rooftop structures and ground-mounted plots to maximize land-use efficiency. The system can meet the plant’s daily demand of approximately 1,100 kWh, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond technical performance, the integration of solar PV offers strategic benefits, including cost savings, improved energy security, and alignment with global sustainability agendas. The findings highlight the potential of renewable-powered desalination to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6, 7, and 13) while advancing resilience and energy–water security in resource-constrained regions.

Resolving Disputes Arising from PPP Contracts on Seawater Desalination Plants: The Independent Expert as the Most Effective Means

Design, Modeling, and Simulation of Archimedes Wave Swing Technology for Renewable Powering of Seawater Desalination Plants in Dakhla City, Moroccan Atlantic Coast

With the global freshwater scarcity, Seawater desalination particularly through reverse osmosis (RO), is a solution to address the problem. Nowadays, seawater desalination is used in various countries, like The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Africa and China, etc. However, despite its huge benefits, the technology is also accompanied by adverse environmental effects, like brine discharge which can lead to localized changes in salinity and subsequently affect the water quality and biodiversity of the area. Huge energy consumption is another issue, as most seawater desalination plants need the electrical energy to control the high-pressure pump which means the enormous energy requirement. Noise pollution, CO₂ emissions, biofouling and invasive species also impact on marine ecosystems. These effects can be minimized by innovative solution, such as improving RO membrane, zero liquid discharge technology, renewable energy technologies, energy recovery devices and continuous environmental monitoring and regulation. This paper investigates ecological consequences in seawater desalination processes, highlights the potential adverse effects, and discusses the mitigation measures.

Abstract Knowledge about pathogens of diatoms and macroalgae in the Mediterranean is scarce. This paper reports the first record of the oomycete Diatomophthora perforans subsp. pleurosigmae infecting the Mediterranean microphytobenthic diatom Pleurosigma cf. intermedium , which was detected in the context of marine environmental surveys of the brine outfalls of two seawater desalination plants.

Environmental impact of brine from desalination plants on marine benthic diatom diversity.

Design of real-time hybrid nanofiltration/reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant performance based on deep learning application

Valorising desalination brine for green cement production: toward mitigating global CO2 emissions.

Sea water desalination is a developing technology producing potable water with many applications worldwide particularly in arid areas. It is an energy intensive process and its integration with renewable energies can produce low-carbon fresh water. Among several water desalination technologies reverse osmosis is the dominant method, based on semi-permeable membranes, producing high quality clean water. The island of Crete, Greece has moderate water resources while their demand is increasing for several reasons. Unfortunatelly, its supply is adversely affected by climate crisis. One method to increase the supply of potable water in Crete is the desalination of seawater using reverse osmosis. The water desalination plants can be powered by solar and wind energy which are abundant in the island. The integration of seawater desalination with renewable energies results in the production of fresh water with low carbon impacts. A SWOT analysis of using solar and wind electricity to power the water desalination plants in Crete has been implemented. It is indicated that there are several strengths and many opportunities for developing seawater desalination plants powered by green electricity in the island. It is concluded that the use of solar-PV and wind electricity for powering seawater desalination plants in Crete reduces the carbon footpritnt of the produced drinkable water minimizing the impacts to climate change.

Domestic showers are critical points of human exposure to microbial biofilms, which may harbor opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella spp. and nontuberculous Mycobacterium. However, biofilm development in reverse osmosis (RO)-treated drinking water systems remains poorly understood. We tested whether shower plumbing material (flexible polymer hose versus showerhead with inline polyethersulfone filter) and seasonal water variations influence biofilm community assembly. In a controlled field study, commercial shower systems were deployed in households supplied with RO-treated tap water from the KAUST Seawater Desalination Plant; biofilm samples were collected from hoses and filters over 3–17 months. Flow cytometry and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing characterized microbial abundance, diversity, and taxonomic composition. We found that alpha diversity, measured by observed OTUs, was uniformly low, reflecting ultra-low biomass in RO-treated tap water. Beta diversity analyses revealed clear clustering by material type, with hoses exhibiting greater richness and evenness than filters. Core taxa—Pelomonas, Blastomonas, and Porphyrobacter—dominated both biofilm types, suggesting adaptation to low-nutrient, chlorinated conditions. Overall, our results demonstrate that ultra-low-nutrient RO tap water still supports the formation of material-driven, low-diversity biofilms dominated by oligotrophic taxa, underscoring plumbing-material choice as a critical factor for safeguarding shower water quality. These findings advance our understanding of biofilm ecology in RO-treated systems, informing strategies to mitigate potential health risks in shower water.

Seawater desalination plants (SWDP) operating worldwide discharge usually highly saline brines that cause a negative environmental impact and are a potential source of minerals and metals. The research staff of Sorbent Scientific-Pedagogic Center, DSTU implemented the project “Development of radical innovations to recover minerals and metals from seawater desalination brines” during 2020—2024. The project objective was to reduce the negative environmental impact of brines and to assist in overcoming the shortage of valuable minerals and metals in EU countries. The project was carried out by a consortium of universities, research and industrial entities from EU countries (Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland) and funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Framework Program for Research and Innovation. It was proposed to use special 3D structured adsorption modules to recover targeted elements from SWDP brines, with a large surface area and numerous channels that may be created using 3D printing. The purpose of this study was to assess commercial and research sorption materials for selective scandium concentration, to select resins for further detailed research of scandium recovery and elution parameters, and to issue recommendations to partners for using sorbents when manufacturing 3D adsorption modules. We have preliminarily tested 15 commercial granular ion exchange resins and 7 pilot fibrous sorbents to recover scandium from the solutions that simulated SWDP brines. The following materials were selected for further study based on the preliminary study results: granular ion exchange resins Lewatit CNP 80, Purolite C115 with carboxylic functionalities and Lewatit MDS TP 208, Puromet MTS9300 with iminodiacetic ones as well as fibrous sorbents FIBAN X-1 (non-woven fabric), and FIBAN X-1 (spun fibre) with similar groups. Equilibrium parameters of scandium recovery from simulated brines were defined in batch mode using the different portion technique. Experimental data were processed using Henry, Freundlich, Langmuir, and Sips fits using nonlinear regression within the entire studied range of equilibrium scandium concentration. Parameters of equilibrium scandium sorption were calculated like fit constants, maximum capacity, and heterogeneity factor. The kinetics of scandium recovery and elution by selected granular and fibrous sorbents was studied using the limited solution volume method. The results were processed by pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models. Scandium elution was examined from sorption materials in the batch and column modes. Scandium distribution factor, selectivity regarding the main macro components Na, K, Ca, Mg, and concentration factor were calculated. We have issued recommendations regarding the use of specific resin for manufacturing 3D adsorption modules to the project partners from Lappeenranta University of Technology. The secondary concentration of scandium from the primary desorbate was studied for Lewatit MDS TP208 ion exchange resin in Na+ and H+ ionic forms, followed by the production of scandium oxide concentrate with a purity of 98.7 %.

eDNA metabarcoding of marine invertebrate communities at RO desalination plant outfalls in Cyprus.

Integration of nanofiltration, ion exchange, and electrodialysis with bipolar membranes for the valorisation of brines: From seawater desalination plants to on-site chemicals production facilities.

Water management in arid regions faces significant challenges due to limited water resources and increasing competition among sectors. Climate change (CC) exacerbates these issues, highlighting the need for advanced modeling tools to predict trends and guide sustainable resource management. This study employs Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) software to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) to evaluate the impact of climate change and water management strategies on the Triassic aquifer of “Sahel El Ababsa” in southeast Tunisia up to 2050. The reference scenario (SC0) assumes constant climatic and socio-economic conditions as of 2020. CC is modeled under RCP4.5 (SC1.0) and RCP8.5 (SC2.0). Additional scenarios include Seawater Desalination Plants (SDPs) (SC3.0 and SC4.0), water harvesting techniques (SC5.0) to highlight their impact on the recharge, and irrigation management strategies (SC6.0). All these scenarios were further developed under the “SC1.0” scenario to assess the impact of moderate CC. The initial aquifer storage is estimated at 100 Million cubic meters (Mm3). Under (SC0), storage would decrease by 76%, leaving only 23.7 Mm3 by 2050. CC scenarios (SC1.0, SC2.0) predict about a 98% reduction. The implementation of the Zarat SDP (SC3.0) would lead to a 45% improvement compared to reference conditions by the end of the simulation period, while its extension (SC4.0) would result in a 69.5% improvement. Under moderate CC, these improvements would be reduced, with SC3.1 showing a 59% decline and SC4.1 a 35% decline compared to the reference scenario. The WHT scenario (SC5.0) demonstrated a 104% improvement in Triassic aquifer storage by 2050 compared to the reference scenario. However, under CC (SC5.1), this improvement would be partially offset, leading to a 29% decline in aquifer storage. The scenario maintaining stable agricultural demand from the Triassic aquifer under CC (SC6.1) projected an 83% decrease in storage. Conversely, the total “Irrigation Cancellation” scenario (SC7.1) under CC showed a significant increase in aquifer storage, reaching 59.3 Mm3 by 2050—an improvement of 250% compared to the reference scenario. The study underscores the critical need for alternative water sources for irrigation and integrated management strategies to mitigate future water scarcity.

Abstract Urban water resources planning is complicated by unprecedented uncertainty in supply and demand. Real‐world planning often simplifies the full range of uncertainty faced by a system into a limited set of deterministic scenarios to enhance accessibility for decision‐makers and the public. However, overlooking uncertainty can expose the system to failures. On the other end of the spectrum, academically developed tools for scenario analysis rigorously quantify the combined effects of multiple sources of uncertainty, but the practical application of these models is limited by the challenges of information visualization and communication of results. In short, municipal water supply planners lack access to planning frameworks that effectively integrate a rigorous treatment of uncertainty with accessible, user‐friendly visual and interactive tools to enhance user accessibility. In this work, we fill this gap by proposing Visual‐Robust Decision Making, and demonstrate an application for the city of Santa Barbara (SB), CA. Santa Barbara faces multiple uncertainties from pending state and federal regulations to changing hydrology and water demand. The city seeks to increase its water portfolio robustness by expanding its seawater desalination plant, but must decide how much capacity to add. We introduce computational tools that assess uncertainty across nine uncertain drivers identified with the help of water planners in SB. To allow public participation in the desalination expansion decision, we develop interactive visual‐analytics to aid decision‐makers and stakeholders in navigating complex scenario analysis outcomes. Our results quantify the tradeoffs between increased capacity and system robustness and aim to enhance participation and uncertainty characterization of urban water planning efforts.

A Technical-and-economic Analysis of Seawater Desalination Plants Integrated into Nuclear Power Plants with VVER-1200 Reactors

This study focuses on Fortaleza, the largest metropolis in Brazil’s semi-arid region. Due to recurrent droughts, massive infrastructure like high-density reservoir networks, inter-municipal and interstate water transfer systems, and a seawater desalination plant have been implemented to ensure the city’s water security. To evaluate the quantitative and qualitative impact of introducing these diverse water sources into Fortaleza’s water supply macrosystem, adequate calibration of the operating and demand parameters is required. In this study, the macrosystem was calibrated using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method based on hourly data from 50 pressure head monitoring points and 40 flow rate monitoring points over two typical operational days. The calibration process involved adjusting the operational rules of typical valves in large-scale Water Distribution Systems (WDS). After parameterization, the calibration presented the following results: R2 of 88% for pressure head and 96% for flow rate, with average relative errors of 13% for the pressure head and flow rate. In addition, with NSE values above 0.80 after calibration for the flow rate and pressure head, the PSO method suggests a significant improvement in the simulation model’s performance. These results offer a methodology for calibrating real WDS to simulate various water injection scenarios in the Fortaleza macrosystem.