Solar park at Jubail desalination plant in S Arabia integrated into grid

The 45.5-MW solar park powering the newly commissioned Jubail 3A water desalination plant in Saudi Arabia has been integrated into the grid.

The solar modules, delivered by Trina Solar Co., Ltd (SHA:688599), are projected to generate enough electricity to cover 20% of the energy needs of the water desalination plant and reduce carbon emissions by 60,000 tonnes annually, Trina Solar said on Wednesday.

The desalination plant, located in the eastern Jubail region, utilises seawater reverse osmosis technology to supply 600,000 tonnes of water daily for 3 million people in the cities of Dammam and Riyadh.

The project is considered pivotal in addressing the increasing water demand on Saudi Arabia's eastern coast and for the country as a whole as it features the first water desalination facility in the kingdom integrating solar energy.

Water desalination, an energy-intensive process, plays a key role in water supply in the kingdom as it accounts for 70% of drinking water.

The Jubail 3A desalination plant is owned by Riyadh-based ACWA Power and its partners Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and AlBawani Water & Power Company (AWP).

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