Saudi Arabia Begins Construction of First Solar Plant Capable of Desalinating Seawater

Solar Water Company, in partnership with the Saudi government, is finalizing the solar plant that desalinates seawater. The solar power plant will be ready later this year and is a solution for various problems in Middle Eastern countries, and it can be implemented in other countries.

The Saudi Arabia is finalizing the construction of the first “solar dome” plant capable of desalinating seawater and revolutionizing the renewable energy industry. The construction of the solar plant is a partnership between the government of the country and the English company, Solar Water, and aims to develop a new method that emits no carbon, does not use polluting chemicals, and requires little electricity to transform seawater into drinking water using solar energy.

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Solar Plant Project Secured Investments of US$ 500 Billion

The proposal for the solar plant is part of the “NEOM” project, which has a projected cost of US$ 500 billion to foster innovative ideas in pursuit of a clean future. The agreement was signed at the end of January last year and the construction of the solar plant, located in northwest Saudi Arabia, is already in its final phase with the expectation that it will be completed by the end of this year.

According to Solar Water’s president, David Reavley, the solar power plant in Saudi Arabia is essentially a steel pot buried in the ground, covered by a glass dome, which takes the shape of a ball.

The installation is based on an experimental concentrated solar power technology, composed of heliostatic reflectors, which are similar to solar panels, where the radiation is focused inside the dome. After that, the heat is stored and directed to the seawater inside the dome, causing the liquid to evaporate and then condense to become clean water.

Water Scarcity Motivates Companies to Seek New Solutions

The executive states that the construction of the solar plant in Saudi Arabia offers the advantage of relatively low costs and easy application, potentially promoting its economical use in various other parts of the world where freshwater scarcity prevails, especially in the Middle East.

It is worth noting that water covers 71% of the Earth, but only 3% of that total is freshwater. Considering the lack of the most important natural resource in human life in large portions of the planet, where there is also little rainfall, finding solutions motivates the effort in creating new solar desalination technologies.

Other Companies Seek Clean Solutions to Obtain Drinking Water

In addition to Solar Water, in partnership with the Saudi government, other companies are seeking the same solution, such as Solar Water Solutions and Climate Fund Manager. Together, their efforts have already installed about 200 desalination units that emit no harmful gases in Kitui County (Kenya), with the mission of providing clean water to 400,000 families by 2023.

There are also other innovative solutions, such as in the United Arab Emirates, which used aerial vehicles to discharge electricity into clouds and stimulate precipitation; these objects are known as “rain drones.”

Another major player in this field is Source Global, which uses hydropanels in its solar plant that extracts drinking water from the air. The company’s project does not require connection to an infrastructure grid or the use of electricity. The company’s next project will also be in Saudi Arabia, where it will build 18 hotels that will use the drinking water from the plants.