Acwa Power, a Saudi-based company and the world’s largest private water desalination company known for its leadership in green hydrogen and energy transition, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japanese technology provider Toray Industries. The purpose of the agreement is to explore energy-saving technologies for seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants.
Through this MoU, both companies will collaborate on joint research to reduce the energy consumption associated with membranes used in Acwa Power’s desalination plants.
Acwa Power will provide Toray with operational details of its plants, enabling Toray to analyse the information and propose commercially viable solutions that enhance energy efficiency.
On the strategic agreement, Raad Al Saady, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Acwa Power, said: “This collaboration with Toray contributes to our vision to improve the way energy is utilised in the desalination of water, and furthers our commitment to providing potable water to communities in a responsible, sustainable and cost-effective manner.”
Currently, nearly 4 million cu m per day of desalinated water produced out of eight plants in Acwa Power’s portfolio deploys Toray’s reverse osmosis (RO) products, with another 1.3 million m3/day expected to be added once two other plants achieve commercial operation.
Kimio Kimura, President of Toray Membrane Middle East, said: “We are proud to support Acwa Power’s commitment to sustainability by jointly researching innovative ways to enhance the energy efficiency of membrane technologies, contributing to the overall sustainability objectives of both Acwa Power and Saudi Arabia.”
“Toray is also involved in a joint venture called Toray Membrane Middle East alongside Saudi-based Abunayyan Holding, which will deliver the kingdom’s first RO membrane manufacturing plant in Dammam, scheduled to start operations in 2025,” he added.
