EXCLUSIVE: Abu Dhabi plans independent water project
02 November, 2017 | By Andrew Roscoe
Abu Dhabi Electricity & Water Authority (Adwea) is planning to oversee the development of the emirate’s first independent water project (IWP).
Adwea recently received bids from firms to provide technical advisory services for the proposed reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant.
The advisory contract will involve determining the final capacity of the plant and location. The capacity is expected to be about 50 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD), which could be extended up to 80 MIGD in a couple of phases.
Possible sites are believed to be:
- Mirfa
- Umm al-Nar
- Taweelah
- Emirates Aluminium site
- Fujairah
While Abu Dhabi has implemented several independent water and power projects (IWPPs) over the past 20 years, the planned IWP would be the emirate’s first privately financed standalone desalination plant.
Traditionally in the GCC’s utilities sector, desalination capacity, mainly thermal, was coupled with power in cogeneration plants. However, this is now starting to change, with the emergence of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) as a less energy-intensive technology.
The decoupling of desalination from power plants will assist with providing a more efficient supply of water when required, particularly with the significant power capacity due to come online from the under-construction 5.6GW Baraka nuclear power plant in the coming three years.
Saudi Arabia is also planning to develop several major IWPs in the coming years, having previously developed desalination supply in cogeneration facilities.
Related Posts
Abu Dhabi's recovery depends on oil prices, while Dubai needs a rebound in aviation and tourism
The UAE had 40,507 Covid-19 infections by 11 June, and although this number continues to ...
READ MORE
Contracts cover work on the Al-Ain Road and a bridge taking Al-Khail Road over a new canal
The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has retendered two road construction contracts in Dubai.
The ...
READ MORE
Cuts to government infrastructure spending may not be as disappointing in the future
Dubai’s budget for 2019 was a disappointing one for the projects sector, with 22.6 per cent less spending ...
READ MORE
All new economies will rely on sustainability and digitalisation, Bee’ah group CEO Khaled al-Huraimel tells MEED
Sharjah will be the first city in the Middle East region to reach zero waste ...
READ MORE
Higher oil prices and fiscal policy adjustments will reduce GCC sovereign funding requirements until 2021
The GCC states’ cumulative funding requirements are accumulating at a slower rate than expected, and are estimated to reach $300bn ...
READ MORE
The third Mashreq Energy Club focused on the rise of renewables in the region
The falling costs of clean energy technologies is driving the shift towards renewable energy across the Middle ...
READ MORE
Why the Gulf is set to lead the world in urban planning development and management
One of the most significant long-term trends around the world is the movement of the human ...
READ MORE
Depicting the construction worksite of the future
Improving efficiency in the way major projects are delivered will make a huge contribution to the economic development of the region, not only by ...
READ MORE
Emirate is expected to move ahead with a 1.5GW photovoltaic (PV) solar plant for its next major renewable energy project
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DOE) is currently working on ...
READ MORE
Latest industry findings report from MEED and Mashreq analyses emerging trends in the UAE's retail sector
Download your copy of the report here
In March 2020, the UAE’s retail industry came to ...
READ MORE
UAE positions economy for recovery
Dubai retenders two road construction contracts
Dubai’s switch from strategic to tactical infrastructure could
Bee’ah sets sights on digitalisation and renewable energy
GCC funding requirements are forecast to slow
ENERGY CLUB 3: Renewables on the rise in
Infographic: Construction vision 2071
EXCLUSIVE: Abu Dhabi securing site for next major
02 November, 2017 | .By Andrew Roscoe
