Water Desalination

Commercial desalination plants fall into one of two categories: thermal and reverse osmosis (RO). The latter, in which seawater is forced through a membrane to separate water from salts, now dominates the market. In the last three decades, desalination costs have gone down by more than half, creating an expensive, but decent sized market. The global market is projected to reach $26.81 billion by 2025, fueled by rapid industrialization, growing population and depletion of freshwater bodies.

Desalination is most economical in areas like the Middle East and North Africa (known as MENA), where there is high pressure on existing water resources combined with low energy costs. While desalination, in conjunction with water conservation efforts, may be able to reduce pressure on freshwater bodies, there remains concern over its energy intensity, impact on marine ecosystems and cost.