NEOM chooses Solar Water Plc for first solar desalination project

We are very excited to announce that NEOM has chosen Solar Water Plc to build its first ever ‘solar dome’ desalination plant.

Solar Water Plc’s technology will help NEOM, located in northwest Saudi Arabia, work towards one of its aims of revolutionising the process of water desalination, thereby solving one of the world’s most pressing problems – access to fresh water.

Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, said: “Easy access to abundant seawater and fully renewable energy resources means NEOM is perfectly placed to produce low cost, sustainable fresh water through solar desalination. This type of technology is a powerful reminder of our commitment to supporting innovation, championing environmental conservation and delivering exceptional livability. Working together with the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture we can expand the implementation of this technology beyond NEOM.”

David Reavley, CEO of Solar Water Plc, commented: “Our game changing desalination technology is 100% carbon neutral and entirely sustainable. In NEOM we have found a partner who has a strong vision of what a New Future looks like in harmony with nature.”

With over one billion people around the world lacking access to clean water every day, Solar Water Plc and NEOM’s desalination project will also serve as a test case for other water scarce countries that are struggling to generate environmentally safe and sustainable sources of fresh water.

Gavin van Tonder, Head of Water at NEOM, added: “We’re really excited by the prospect of bringing Solar Water Plc’s cutting-edge water technology and fresh industry thinking to NEOM. By using their solar dome desalination techniques, we can build a highly effective, efficient water utility that is both future oriented and environmentally responsible.”

Solar Water Plc will start work on the first dome in February and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.