The Neom smart-city project willuse cutting-edge solar technology to power a desalination plant that producesclean, low-cost, environmentally friendly fresh water.
The decision aims to enhance megacity's position as a new global tourismdestination, a center of innovation and environmental conservation, and as anaccelerator of human progress.
Neom signed an agreement with UK business Solar Water Limited to build adesalination plant in the northwest of the Kingdom that uses the newlydeveloped "solar dome" technology. It is hoped the first-of-its-kind,completely sustainable and carbon-neutral facility will shape the future ofdesalination in Neom, the Kingdom and throughout the world.
Work on the solar dome project will begin in February and is expected tobe completed by the end of the year. The technology it employs willsignificantly reduce the environmental impact of the desalination process byproducing less saline solution, a byproduct that can harm natural ecosystems.
The pioneering and innovative approach from Solar Water Limited, whichwas developed at Cranfield University in the UK, represents the firstwidespread use of concentrated solar power technology in desalination, Neomsaid. Seawater is pumped into a hydrological solar dome made of glass andsteel, where it is heated and evaporated to remove the salt. The process cancontinue at night thanks to the storage of solar energy generated throughoutthe day. The technology helps to prevent any damage to marine life as it doesnot dump saline solution created by the process back into the sea.
"Neom's adoption of the experimental version of this program supportsthe sustainability goals set by the Ministry in the Kingdom, as shown in theNational Water Strategy 2030, and is fully in line with thesustainable-development goals set by the United Nations," said Minister ofEnvironment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli.
Neom CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr said that the megacity project has easy accessto abundant amounts of seawater and completely renewable energy resources,which puts it in the ideal position to produce low-cost and sustainable freshwater using solar-powered desalination.
He added that the adoption of this type of technology reflects Neom'scommitment to supporting innovation, protecting the environment and preservingits purity to provide a comfortable and exceptional life. It also raises thepossibility of using the technology in other parts of Saudi Arabia in cooperationwith the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
David Reavley, the CEO of Solar Water Ltd, said: "Currently, thousandsof desalination plants around the world rely heavily on burning fossil fuelsfor water extraction, and we have the technology to desalinate water in a waythat is completely sustainable and 100 percent carbon neutral.
"We are happy to partner with Neom, which has a strong vision of whatthe new future looks like in harmony and integration with nature."
