Spanish multinational Abengoa and water solutions company Advanced Water Technology (AWT) will develop the world?s first solar-powered large-scale desalination plant in Saudi Arabia
The photovoltaic (PV) desalination plant is expected to desalinate 60,000 cu/m of seawater every day for the Al Khafji City in northeastern Saudi Arabia, stated officials from Abengoa.
In addition to being solar-powered, the plant would also optimise power consumption and include a pre-treatment phase that would reduce the high level of salinity, oil and fat present in seawater.
Abengoa?s total desalination capacity is nearly 1.5mn cu/m per day. With the Al Khafji desalination plant, the company would strengthen its position in the region, stated officials. Abengoa?s key projects in the Middle East include Oman?s Barka desalination plant and Abu Dhabi?s Shams 1 solar plant.
