ENOWA, the energy, water, and hydrogen subsidiary of NEOM, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese trading company, ITOCHU, and Veolia, a global leader in water, waste, and energy management solutions. As part of the MoU, the companies have agreed to collaborate to develop a first-of-its-kind selective desalination plant powered by 100% renewable energy in OXAGON, NEOM’s advanced manufacturing and innovation city.
Set to produce its early water in 2024, the new facility will be key to realizing ENOWA’s ambitions to create a sustainable, abundant water supply for residential, industrial, and commercial use. Aligned with NEOM’s commitment to developing a circular economy the new state-of-the-art plant will use advanced membrane technology to produce separate brine streams. This enables ENOWA to produce brine-derived products, which will be developed and monetized downstream. Brine, which is usually considered a waste output of desalination, will be used to produce significant quantities of valuable industrial materials that can be used locally or exported internationally.
Partners will explore cooperation to build a state-of-the-art desalination plant powered by 100% renewable energy
Commenting on the MoU, Peter Terium, CEO of ENOWA, said: “Partnering with global leaders in sustainable water solutions is key to NEOM’s ambition to become a global benchmark for integrated sustainable water systems. At ENOWA, our vision is to create a sustainable abundance of life’s most essential elements, all in harmony with nature. We will be producing, treating, and reusing water in one of the most water-stressed regions in the world, through sustainable, innovative and integrated solutions. This new desalination plant is one example of the type of sustainable infrastructure and circular economy we are developing to meet our zero-carbon footprint and zero-waste goals.”
The brine streams will be used as feedstock to produce valuable minerals and metals and achieve 100% Zero Liquid Discharge in downstream brine industries fully developed by ENOWA
The new plant will meet the water needs of NEOM with a production capacity of 500,000m3 of desalinated water per day by project completion in 2025, approximately 30% of NEOM’s forecasted total water demand. In line with NEOM’s environmental goals, it will use advanced and innovative membrane separation technologies to produce water, as well as concentrated brine streams. This enables the brine to be classified as a product, rather than waste, therefore minimizing the plant’s environmental impact and redefining the entire business model for desalination facilities of the future. Brine generated from the desalination plant will be treated by ENOWA to feed industries utilizing High Purity Industrial Salt, Bromine, Boron, Potassium, Gypsum, Magnesium and Rare Metal feedstocks.