At the Innovation Days 2026 event in Riyadh, Acwa made several advancements in desalination technologies. The company, the world’s largest private water desalination operator, emphasised its commitment to integrating cutting-edge solutions into its desalination processes, ensuring a future of greater efficiency and sustainability.
Among the partnerships formed, one with Water Global Access (WGA) stands out. The collaboration focuses on advancing WGA’s Gravitational Vapor Compression Desalination (GVCD) technology. This innovative approach harnesses gravitational forces to drive vapour compression, potentially significantly reducing both energy requirements and the costs of producing fresh water. The shift towards energy-efficient desalination technologies like GVCD aligns with global efforts to improve water availability in regions facing scarcity, while simultaneously minimising the environmental impact.
Another key partnership revolves around NexT Membranes from UCLA. Acwa plans to explore NexT’s compaction-free TFX reverse osmosis membranes, which represent a departure from traditional desalination methods. These membranes do not degrade under sustained pressure, allowing for more stable operation at ultra-high pressure and improving water extraction rates per pass. This could lead to more efficient desalination plants capable of handling a wider range of water sources.
In addition, Acwa is set to work with Harmony Desalting from MIT on a Batch Reverse Osmosis system. This method operates on a closed-loop, cyclic pressure mode, optimising recovery rates from challenging waters while minimising energy use and brine waste. This approach may offer a major advantage in reducing the environmental footprint of desalination processes.
Acwa is also partnering with Huaxin Nano, a company specialising in anti-fouling reverse osmosis membranes. These membranes are designed to resist organic and inorganic deposits, significantly extending the lifespan of desalination equipment and lowering operational costs.
Further integrating artificial intelligence into the process, Acwa will collaborate with Aleph Tech to optimize energy consumption in large-scale desalination plants. Even slight efficiency improvements can lead to considerable savings at the operational scale Acwa manages, enhancing both economic and environmental outcomes.
