RIYADH: In eastern Saudi Arabia, solar panels bask in the blazing noontime sun, harnessing energy to power a water desalination facility. This endeavor represents a significant stride towards mitigating the environmental impact of the emissions-heavy desalination process in the country.
The Jazlah plant in Jubail city is at the forefront of technological advances in a nation that turned to desalination over a century ago to address challenges posed by drought and cholera. Today, Saudi Arabia’s reliance on desalination is indispensable, considering its absence of natural lakes, rivers, and regular rainfall.
To address its growing desalination needs and simultaneously pursue sustainability goals, Saudi Arabia is innovating. Projects like Jazlah, which integrates desalination with solar power on a large scale, are designed to alleviate the conflict between water demand and environmental concerns. Officials estimate that these solar panels will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 60,000 tons annually.
As Saudi Arabia aims to accommodate a population of 100 million people by 2040, up from 32.2 million today, the demand for water is expected to grow significantly. CEO Marco Arcelli of ACWA Power, which operates Jazlah, acknowledges that expanding desalination capacity is essential to meet this challenge.
Historian Michael Christopher Low, who has studied Saudi Arabia’s struggle with water scarcity, describes this as an “existential” issue for Gulf states. He emphasizes the importance of desalination to their survival and notes the practical necessity of this approach.
However, achieving sustainable desalination has its limits. While the pursuit of greener technologies is crucial, it’s essential to acknowledge that desalination will always be energy-intensive, particularly in arid regions like Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s history with desalination dates back to its early years as a nation. Notably, the “Water Prince” Prince Mohammed al-Faisal explored innovative solutions, including the towing of icebergs from Antarctica. In 1970, the country began developing its modern desalination infrastructure.
Today, the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) operates 30 facilities with a production capacity of 11.5 million cubic meters per day. However, the rapid growth of desalination, particularly at thermal plants running on fossil fuels, has raised environmental concerns.
The SWCC aims to reduce 37 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions by 2025. This shift involves transitioning from thermal plants to electricity-powered reverse osmosis facilities like Jazlah. Solar power capacity is also expected to increase from 120 megawatts to 770 megawatts.
Despite these advancements, Saudi Arabia’s desalination efforts will always be energy-intensive when compared to regions with natural water sources. Yet, for the country and its employees working at desalination plants, this work is deemed essential for national security and survival. As an anonymous employee at the Ras al-Khair plant aptly puts it, “Riyadh would die” without the critical role of desalination in providing clean water.
