ACWA Power, a prominent developer and operator of power generation and water desalination plants, has partnered with Nanostone Water Inc., a global membrane solutions company, to conduct research and knowledge transfer at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.
The collaboration aims to evaluate Nanostone’s UF ceramic membranes and process technology for seawater desalination applications.
This partnership further solidifies Saudi Arabia’s position as a hub for technological innovation in sustainable power, water desalination, and green hydrogen. The joint effort will focus on applied industry-oriented research to develop a robust pretreatment process that provides superior protection and extended lifetime for downstream reverse osmosis membranes in seawater desalination.
The agreement was signed by Thomas Altmann, Executive Vice President of Innovation and New Technology at ACWA Power, and Christian Goebbert, Managing Director, Chief Scientific Officer, and Vice President of Research and Development at Nanostone Water Inc., during the European Desalination Society conference in Cyprus. ACWA Power, as a Titanium sponsor, actively supports the conference’s mission of promoting “Desalination for the Environment, Clean Water, and Energy.”
Marco Arcelli, Chief Executive Officer of ACWA Power, emphasized their commitment to innovation in Saudi Arabia. In addition to providing sustainable and cost-effective water desalination solutions, ACWA Power aims to develop advanced engineering and technological expertise to address global water needs. By bringing together the best of the local and global innovation ecosystem, including research institutions and business partners, ACWA Power aims to create innovative solutions for future facilities.
Nanostone’s UF technology offers a robust solution for varying water quality, including harmful algal blooms, and ensures the reliable delivery of high-quality pretreated water at a lower total cost of ownership. ACWA Power and Nanostone Water intend to leverage the research collaboration to promote Nanostone’s technology for commercial use in large-scale desalination plants across the GCC region.
Thomas Altmann highlighted the potential of ceramic membranes as a robust pretreatment technology that enables enhanced and consistent seawater quality. Ceramic membranes offer long-term benefits, including the potential to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint of desalination plants.
John Ritter, President and Chief Operating Officer of Nanostone, expressed enthusiasm for working with ACWA Power to advance ceramic membrane and process technology. The collaboration aims to demonstrate the efficacy of Nanostone’s ceramic ultrafiltration technology as an ideal pretreatment solution for seawater desalination.
This partnership is driven by Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing sustainable and innovative technologies, supported by the unique environment KAUST provides for local and global partners. KAUST, renowned for addressing critical global challenges, leverages its exceptional research facilities, including research centers and core laboratories, in areas such as energy, water, environment, food, health, and digital technologies.
