Oman's first solar water treatment plant goes online

Austrian solar-tech company Heliovis AG has announced the mechanical completion and commissioning of a solar-thermally powered plant for the treatment of produced water in Oman.

The plant was built on behalf of Omani ARA Petroleum at Qarat al Milh, a small oil field near Qarn Alam in central Oman. US Trevi Systems Inc supplied its forward osmosis technology for the plant.

Operations at the water treatment plant are set to begin in mid-August, Heliovis said last week.

The pilot facility integrates the Austrian start-up's solar thermal energy technology with Trevi Systems' water treatment solution. The solar field operates at around 180°C and feeds into a thermal storage system, centred around a pressurised stratified layer hot water vessel. This storage solution allows for continuous 24/7 operation, providing the thermal energy necessary to transform hyper-saline produced water into high-quality freshwater.

The plant is expected to produce up to 140 cubic metres of freshwater per day.

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