ACWA Power Inaugurates Jubail 3A Independent Water Desalination Plant with Record-Breaking Efficiency

Strategic Insights -

ACWA Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor, and operator of power generation, water desalination, and green hydrogen plants worldwide, along with its partners Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and AlBawani Water & Power Company (AWP), have officially inaugurated Jubail 3A independent water desalination plant (Jazlah Water Desalination Company), marking the start of full-time operations. The plant is the first of its kind in the Kingdom, integrating photovoltaic (PV) solar power, and has achieved a world record of 2.8 kWh/cubic meter of water using Arabian Gulf Seawater. The project, which cost $650 million, has a production capacity of 600,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day, meeting increasing water demands. The plant will deliver clean water to over three million people at a record-breaking tariff of 0.41 USD/m3, using reverse osmosis technology, with 45.5 MW solar PV power generation facility accounting for 20% of the plants energy consumption.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Jubail 3A independent water desalination plant is the first of its kind in the Kingdom, integrating photovoltaic (PV) solar power, and has achieved a world record of 2.8 kWh/cubic meter of water using Arabian Gulf Seawater.
  • The project has a production capacity of 600,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day, meeting increasing water demands, and will deliver clean water to over three million people at a record-breaking tariff of 0.41 USD/m3.
  • The plant's utilisation of advanced PV and RO technologies will reduce carbon emissions by 60,000 tons per year, supporting sustained social and economic advancement in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
  • The project achieved 40% local content with a total expenditure of SAR 1.5 billion, demonstrating ACWA Power's contribution to the growth of the Saudi domestic ecosystem of suppliers and manufacturers.
  • The project employs 100% Saudi nationals and contributes to the growth of a skilled and educated workforce through a cooperative university program.
  • The execution of the project involved a development consortium comprising ACWA Power (40.2%), Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) (40%), and AlBawani Water & Power Company (AWP) (19.8%), and an EPC consortium of Power China, Sepco III, Lantania, and Abengoa.

Statistics:

  • $650 million: The total cost of the project
  • 2.8 kWh/cubic meter: The world record of water efficiency achieved by the plant
  • 600,000 cubic meters: The daily production capacity of the plant
  • 45.5 MW: The solar PV power generation facility's capacity
  • 20%: The percentage of the plant's energy consumption accounted for by solar power
  • 0.41 USD/m3: The record-breaking tariff of clean water delivered by the plant
  • 60,000 tons/year: The reduction in carbon emissions by the plant
  • 40%: The local content achieved by the project
  • SAR 1.5 billion: The total expenditure of the project
  • 100%: The percentage of Saudi nationals employed by the project

Sources:

  • ACWA Power
  • Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC)
  • AlBawani Water & Power Company (AWP)
  • Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC)
  • Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) consortium of Power China, Sepco III, Lantania, and Abengoa