US firm secures $5.8 mln Saudi desalination equipment deal

Energy Recovery Inc. announced that it has been awarded a $5.8 million contract to supply its PX Q300 Pressure Exchanger devices along with related equipment and services to multiple desalination facilities in Saudi Arabia.

The devices are expected to be shipped in Q3 of 2019, the US-based energy solutions provider said in a statement. 

“Through our water business, we continue to see opportunity and growth in the Middle East and across the globe,” said Energy Recovery President and CEO, Chris Gannon. 

The company estimates the PXs supplied to the Saudi Arabia desalination facilities will reduce power consumption for all projects by 31.7 megawatts, saving over 274 gigawatt hours of energy per year. 

The facilities will produce up to 246,000 cubic meters of water per day - enough freshwater to meet the daily consumption of approximately 400,000 people.

“We see a surge in sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant construction in the Middle East,” said Energy Recovery Vice President of Water, Rodney Clemente. 

“This growth is a mixture of greenfield projects to increase local water supply and retrofits of existing desalination plants from thermal to SWRO technology. These existing plants are needed to maintain the status quo water supply, and as thermal desalination infrastructure ages in the region, facilities are noticing the cost savings SWRO provides,” Clemente added.