Challenges and technologies in the desalination market: analysis and case study of a Hydrotech Engineering plant
By 2030, 47% of the global population will live in areas affected by severe water stress. This alarming outlook positions seawater desalination as one of the most promising solutions to address the growing water scarcity. Desalination, which makes seawater drinkable by removing salt, could play a crucial role in a future where freshwater becomes increasingly scarce.
Confirming its potential, the global desalination market is expected to experience significant growth, with an estimated value of $31.32 billion by 2031, compared to $17.47 billion in 2024, and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% between 2024 and 2031.
Why is desalination important?
Our planet is rich in water, but only a tiny fraction is actually usable for human consumption. While oceans make up 97% of the Earth’s water, freshwater accounts for only 2.5%, and the majority of that is trapped in glaciers and polar ice caps. This means that only 0.007% of the world’s water is available to the global population. In light of these figures, the idea of using seawater, which exists in nearly unlimited quantities, becomes increasingly appealing.
However, despite being a viable solution, desalination is still not widely adopted on a global scale. The reasons for this are manifold, ranging from high energy costs to environmental impacts.
Desalination technologies
Desalination is the process by which salts are removed from seawater or brackish water, making it potable or suitable for agricultural and industrial use. There are several desalination technologies, each with distinctive features.
Distillation involves heating the water until it evaporates, followed by condensing the vapor to obtain fresh water. This method requires a lot of energy, making it less cost-effective compared to other technologies.
Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most widely used desalination technology, accounting for about 85% of global plants. It utilizes a semi-permeable membrane capable of separating dissolved salts from water. The process involves pumping saltwater at high pressure through the membrane, which allows water to pass through but retains salts and impurities. Reverse osmosis is favored for its superior energy efficiency compared to distillation and other methods. Recent innovations in membrane materials, such as thin-film membranes, have significantly improved permeability and salt rejection rates, making RO systems increasingly cost-competitive.
With its excellent efficiency and ongoing innovation, reverse osmosis is projected to account for a 36.7% share of the desalination market in 2024. The continuous effort to improve membrane and system design will ensure that this technology remains dominant in the global desalination technology segment.
The benefits
Desalination offers significant advantages, especially in areas where access to fresh water is limited. Here are some of the main benefits:
- Continuous access to drinking water: in regions like the Middle East, where water resources are scarce, desalination is a vital resource. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates heavily rely on this technology.
- Independence from weather conditions: desalination plants are not affected by weather conditions, unlike traditional water reserves that may diminish during drought periods. This ensures a constant and reliable water supply.
- Agricultural and industrial applications: desalinated water can be used for irrigation and various industrial processes, enhancing the sustainability of agricultural and industrial activities in arid regions.
The challenges
Despite its advantages, desalination presents several challenges:
- High investment costs: the substantial capital investment required for the construction of desalination plants and their associated infrastructure is one of the primary factors limiting the growth of the global desalination market.
- High energy costs: desalination is an energy-intensive process. The energy needed to pump and treat saltwater represents a significant expense, which has hindered the adoption of the technology, especially in countries where energy is expensive or not readily available.
- Environmental impact: managing saline waste, or “brine,” is one of the main environmental issues associated with desalination. If not properly treated, this waste can harm marine ecosystems. Additionally, the energy required for the process contributes to greenhouse gas emissions unless renewable energy sources are utilized.
Status and outlook of the desalination market
Currently, approximately 16,000 desalination plants operate in 177 countries, producing 95 million cubic meters of fresh water daily. The Middle East has long dominated the global desalination market due to severe water scarcity issues affecting many of its countries. It is projected that by 2024, the Middle East will account for 37.6% of the global market. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, characterized by arid climates, heavily rely on desalination plants to meet their municipal and industrial water needs. With limited freshwater resources, governments in the region have made massive investments in building large reverse osmosis desalination plants along their coastlines, thus gaining significant expertise in desalination technologies.
Among the regions with high potential for future growth, Asia-Pacific stands out as one of the most promising. Many coastal cities and island nations in the region, such as China, India, Indonesia, and Australia, are facing increasing problems of saltwater intrusion into aquifers and over-extraction of groundwater. The rising population and economic development in these areas have significantly increased the demand for fresh water.
Taking advantage of their long coastlines and abundant seawater, these countries are adopting seawater desalination to bridge the gap between supply and demand. Nations like China and India, with well-developed industrial bases, are fostering the growth of local desalination equipment manufacturers to meet domestic needs. Additionally, many Pacific island countries rely entirely on desalination to satisfy all their water requirements. This makes Asia-Pacific one of the fastest-growing markets for desalination systems globally in the coming years.
In Italy, desalination is less widespread and is primarily concentrated in Sicily, Sardinia, and some smaller islands, where these plants are crucial for ensuring water supply in areas with scarce or difficult-to-access resources.
Future innovations and sustainability
Research in the field of desalination continues to advance, with new technologies aimed at reducing energy costs and minimizing environmental impact. Thinner and more efficient membranes are improving productivity while simultaneously lowering energy consumption, and innovations in pretreatment processes are extending the lifespan of the membranes themselves. The integration of renewable energy into desalination processes also offers a significant reduction in carbon footprint.
Case study on desalination: an efficient solution for seawater treatment in a Caribbean country
In the context of increasing pressure on water resources globally, seawater desalination technologies are taking on a crucial role, especially for island and coastal communities. This study focuses on a desalination plant commissioned in 2020 by a municipal entity in one of the Caribbean countries, where the availability of freshwater is limited and the demand from both the population and the tourism sector is steadily rising.
The client requested a highly efficient and sustainable solution to ensure a continuous supply of drinking water. In response, a “turnkey” solution was designed and implemented, based on advanced water treatment technologies capable of processing seawater and making it safe for human consumption, with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency.
Some details of the plant
- Country: Caribbean country
- Year: 2020
- Client’s requests: effective solution for seawater desalination
- Solution offered by Hydrotech Engineering: Turnkey plant for seawater treatment using capillary ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis with energy recovery system, and final disinfection.
- Capacity: 6,000 m³/day
- Energy consumption: 3.29 kWh/m³
Conclusion
Desalination represents a key solution to address the growing water scarcity in many parts of the world. Despite the challenges related to energy costs and environmental impact, ongoing innovations are making this technology increasingly accessible and sustainable.
For businesses and communities operating in water-stressed areas, investing in desalination technologies could be a strategic choice to ensure a secure and sustainable water future. Our company is at the forefront of this sector, providing tailored solutions to meet diverse needs, with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability.
