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Taweelah's Watershed Moment: A Global Record | |
| Sumita Pawar |
The Taweelah reverse osmosis (RO) facility in Abu Dhabi has set a new record by producing 183 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of desalinated water, exceeding 90% of its capacity.
This achievement establishes Taweelah RO as the largest operational RO facility in the world. Once fully operational, it will supply 200 MIGD of potable water.
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Taweelah RO: The World's Largest Operational Facility
The adoption of low-carbon intensive RO technology plays a vital role in the strategic initiative by Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) to decouple water and power generation. Compared to traditional thermal desalination plants, RO enhances energy efficiency by 96% and reduces carbon emissions by over 85%.
EWEC's CEO, Othman Al Ali, highlights the significance of the plant in the company's strategic shift towards decarbonizing the energy sector in line with the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 initiative. By 2030, EWEC aims to produce 90% of all desalinated water using reverse osmosis, resulting in an 88% reduction in carbon emissions associated with water production.
Low carbon-intensive water desalination plays a pivotal role in the long-term decarbonization of the water and energy sectors, meeting the water demands of Abu Dhabi and the UAE while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
Taweelah RO: A Joint Venture for Sustainable Water Production
Taweelah RO is EWEC's fourth operational desalination plant with RO capacity, joining Mirfa 1, Fujairah F1, and Fujairah F2 hybrid water desalination and power plants.
EWEC has commissioned the development of four more low-carbon intensive water production facilities, including Mirfa 2 RO, Shuweihat 4 RO, and two standalone RO water desalination plants as part of the Abu Dhabi Islands RO Independent Water Project.
TAQA Group (20%), Mubadala (40%), and ACWA Power (40%) jointly own Taweelah RO, with EWEC securing a 30-year Water Purchase Agreement to procure water from the facility since 2019. The success of Taweelah RO marks a significant milestone in the UAE's efforts to achieve sustainable water and energy production.