Dow Water and Process Solutions, a global leader in sustainable water separation and purification technology, has been selected by Degrémont to supply its advanced membrane solutions for a project to construct an energy-efficient desalination plant in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Masdar.

Degrémont is a subsidiary of the French utility Suez Environment and a reverse osmosis desalination plant construction leader since 1969.

The project is part of the pilot desalination programme launched by Masdar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi government-owned Mubadala Development Company, to test and develop energy-efficient seawater desalination technologies that can be supplied by renewable energy sources.

The pilot calls for a full-scale facility to be operational by 2020, with the long-term objective to implement the best performing technologies in desalination plants across the UAE.

The 18-month pilot project will cover all facets of the design, implementation, and maintenance of a desalination unit. The plant, potentially powered completely by renewable energy sources, will offer more energy efficiency than current desalination systems and will be suitable for the seawater and environmental conditions found throughout the UAE.

Degrémont has chosen Dow Water and Process Solutions due to the unique and innovative technology of its energy efficient advanced Dow Ultrafiltration and Reverse Osmosis membranes.

Rajat Mehta, EMEA commercial director, Dow Water and Process Solutions, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Degrémont to assist in the development of this project. We are very much looking forward to working together to provide innovative, sustainable solutions to improve water treatment technologies in the UAE.”

Rémi Lantier, CEO of Degrémont, said: “We are excited to partner with Dow on the Renewable Energy Seawater Desalination Program. As a world leader in water treatment we take innovation to heart and Dow Water & Process Solutions consistently brings to market innovative reverse osmosis technologies. I’m confident that this partnership will reap great benefits for this project, and together, we will be a part of a remarkable accomplishment in the region.”

Dow technologies to be installed include Dow Filmtec Seamaxx, which can reduce energy consumption in desalination processes by up to 10 per cent, compared to other reverse osmosis elements on the market, and Dow Filmtec Eco elements, which offer unparalleled rejection and flow performance for industrial water needs whilst enabling up to 30 per cent reduction in energy usage, the company said.

The plant will demonstrate the latest innovations in desalination treatments. “Membrane technologies, like those found in Dow Ultrafiltration and Dow Filmtec reverse osmosis elements, are far more energy efficient than the thermal processes currently used in most of the desalination plants throughout the UAE,” said Zakia Bahjou, MEA regional commercial manager, Dow Water and Process Solutions. “Dow is committed to bringing the latest water desalination technologies to the UAE, and is excited to be partnering with such companies as Masdar and Degrémont to bring this project to life.” - TradeArabia News Service