Saudi Arabia heavily relies on desalination to make up for deficits in rainfall and natural freshwater sources. Through desalination, salt water from seas and oceans is converted into fresh water for drinking, industrial use and irrigation. It was through the desalination process that Saudi Arabia was able to tap into its vast oil reserves, which have since become the main source of revenue for the country. Saudi Arabia is not alone in its search for freshwater solutions. With increasing desertification and the effects of climate change, many countries are turning to desalination as a reliable and sustainable alternative.
The desalination process is energy intensive, and Saudi Arabia’s existing energy grid is facing challenges from peak demand on the national power network. Saudi Arabia is in the process of expanding its solar and nuclear power capabilities to meet demand, but desalination alone uses 17% of the country’s total electricity generation. In addition, the cost of desalination is highly dependent on the source of power, with costs ranging from $2.5 to 67 cents per cubic meter of fresh water, depending on the energy source.
Despite the cost and environmental impacts associated with desalination, the process has failed to deter Saudi Arabia from turning to its saline resources to meet its freshwater needs. The country’s total capacity for desalination currently stands at nearly 1.5 million cubic meters per day, and is likely to increase significantly over the next few decades. This is largely due to the country’s availability of vast coastlines from which water can be sourced.
Saudi Arabia is also focused on finding ways to reduce the environmental impacts of desalination. While desalination does require a high energy input compared to other methods of freshwater production, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in research and development into ways to reduce energy consumption. In addition, the country has implemented a number of measures to increase water conservation, such as the re-use of treated waste water and rainwater harvesting.
The investment that Saudi Arabia is making into desalination technology is helping to boost the country’s economy. In addition to providing a domestic energy source, the process is allowing the country to diversify its sources of revenue. Desalination is helping to reduce the country’s reliance on oil and gas, while also providing lucrative export opportunities for technological knowhow and services.
Desalination is an integral part of Saudi Arabia’s water management efforts and its efforts to achieve sustainability. The process may have its drawbacks, but its continued development and advancement are proving to be an invaluable resource for the country.
Rise of Desalination Plants
Due to its strategic geographic location, Saudi Arabia has a large coastline, enabling the construction of numerous desalination plants. In 2018, the Kingdom had 40 desalination plants and more will be constructed in the near future. The Kingdom’s plans include a further 17 multi-effect distillation (MED) desalination plants, estimated to cost around USD7.5 billion. These new plants will increase the total desalination capacity from nearly 1.5 million cubic meters per day, to about 4.2 million cubic meters per day by the end of 2020.
Not only will these new desalination plants increase the country’s overall fresh water supply, but they will also reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on imported desalinated water – which amounts to a whopping 25% of the total demand. In addition to reducing reliance on imports, the Kingdom is also actively developing other resources, such as recycled water, wastewater, and seawater, to increase local supply.
Furthermore, the rise of desalination plants has resulted in increased investment in related industries, such as engineering, technology, and maintenance, which are vital to the Kingdom’s continued success. The construction and development of desalination plants is set to create thousands of jobs, while also providing a boost to small, local businesses. As the Kingdom continues to expand its desalination capabilities, it is also investing heavily in research and development, designing new and improved technologies which enhance efficiency and sustainability.
Creating Sustainable Water Resources
Saudi Arabia’s extensive efforts in desalination have made it a global leader in water security. Desalination helps to stabilize the country’s water supply and reduce the risk of water scarcity, while also increasing the overall availability of water for domestic and industrial purposes.
The Kingdom has made great strides in developing technologies to reduce energy consumption, improve cost effectiveness, and expand capacity. New desalination plants use advanced and sophisticated filtration technologies, such as reverse osmosis, to produce potable and industrial quality water, while also reducing emissions.
The country is also actively exploring new, innovative techniques, such as the use of solar energy to power desalination plants, which would help reduce its carbon footprint and reduce water shortages. These renewable sources of energy are slowly gaining traction in the country, and are expected to become increasingly important in the future. By tapping into its natural resources and harnessing renewable energy, the Kingdom is making great strides in creating sustainable water resources for the present and future generations.
Environmental Impact
Although desalination is an attractive solution to many countries facing water scarcity, there are some drawbacks and potential problems associated with the water treatment process. The greatest concern is the environmental impact of desalination, which includes releasing brine into the surrounding bodies of water. This brine is significantly saltier than the surrounding water and can have a detrimental effect on the surrounding marine life.
In order to reduce the environmental impacts of desalination, countries like Saudi Arabia are taking careful measurements to ensure that the plant discharges are being monitored closely. The Kingdom has implemented strict regulations that ensure the water released from desalination plants is clean and meets regulatory standards.
Most desalination plants in Saudi Arabia are located in remote coastal locations and this helps to mitigate the effects of saltwater intrusion. In addition, Saudi Arabia’s government has made a commitment to reduce the country’s overall energy consumption, in part, through utilizing alternative energy sources to power the desalination plants.
Economic Benefits
Desalination projects come with hefty costs, however, the economic benefits for countries like Saudi Arabia are great. Not only is the country creating jobs through the construction of new desalination plants, but it’s also constructing an industry around desalination technology and services that will bring in additional revenue.
Saudi Arabia is slowly transitioning away from its reliance on oil and gas and turning towards innovative and renewable sources of energy to power its growing economy. By investing in desalination, the country is realizing cost savings due to reduced water import costs.
The popularity of desalination is being fueled by the current climate crisis, and many countries are recognizing the potential of desalination as a reliable and sustainable source of freshwater. Saudi Arabia is leading the way in desalination technology and the country’s investment into the industry is set to result in increased jobs and opportunities in the sector.
Analysis
In the wake of the climate crisis, water scarcity is becoming an ever-present phenomenon across the globe. With countries facing diminishing resources, countries like Saudi Arabia are turning towards innovative technologies, such as desalination, to secure their freshwater supplies.
Saudi Arabia has long recognized the value of desalination and is heavily investing into its development. The country has established a leading industry in desalination technology and is utilizing alternative energy sources to power its desalination plants, offering cost savings and reducing emissions.
However, the process still comes with drawbacks and potential environmental impacts. To combat this, the country is actively monitoring plant discharges and is continually exploring new and innovative ways to reduce energy consumption and mitigate the effects.
Desalination may have its drawbacks, but it is an invaluable resource that is helping countries like Saudi Arabia to achieve sustainability in the face of the climate crisis.
