ACWA Power signs agreement to enhance seawater pre-treatment technology

ACWA POWER, A leading developer, investor, and operator of power generation, water desalination, and green hydrogen plants, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nanostone Water Inc., a global membrane solutions company, to perform R&D and knowledge transfer to evaluate Nanostone’s UF ceramic membranes and process technology in seawater desalination applications.

The partners will fulfil the agreement at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), a leading innovation hub in Saudi Arabia. They will pursue applied industry­oriented research to develop a robust pre­treatment process for seawater desalination applications with superior protection and an extended lifetime for downstream reverse osmosis membranes.

“As the world’s leading water desalination operator, ACWA Power is a catalyst for innovation in Saudi Arabia. Our contribution to the country goes beyond providing the greenest solutions and lowest costs for water desalination. We are also developing the world’s most advanced engineering and technological expertise by constantly pursuing new solutions to address global water needs. It is imperative that we bring the best of the local and global innovation ecosystem, including research institutions and business partners, to Saudi Arabia, enabling us to develop innovative solutions for our future facilities,” commented Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power.

Nanostone's UF technology provides partners and end­users with a solution against variations in water quality, including harmful algal blooms, along with reliable delivery of high­quality pretreated water at a lower total cost of ownership.

Both ACWA Power and Nanostone Water aim to capitalise on the outcome of this successful collaboration to jointly promote Nanostone's technology for commercial use in world­scale desalination plants throughout the GCC region.

Thomas Altmann, EVP innovation and new technology at ACWA Power, remarked, “Ceramic membrane is a robust pre­treatment technology with the potential for reliable operations, ensuring enhanced and consistent seawater quality. It offers long­term benefits for desalination operations, including the potential to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint of desalination plants.”

John Ritter, president and chief operating officer of Nanostone, added, “We are delighted to work with ACWA Power to advance the next generation of ceramic membrane and process technology. Through this collaboration, we expect to prove our industry­leading ceramic ultrafiltration technology as an ideal pretreatment solution for seawater desalination.”

ENEC certifies 39 nuclear operators

THE EMIRATES NUCLEAR Energy Corporation (ENEC) has announced that a further 39 certified national nuclear operators have joined the ranks of certified senior reactor operators (SROs) and reactor operators (ROs) in the UAE. This brings the full number of SROs and ROs in the country up to 193, 69 of whom are UAE nationals. The new graduates received their certifications from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the UAE’s nuclear independent nuclear regulator.

Working alongside a host of international experts, they are now certified to operate the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant as part of the operations crews of Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), the operations and maintenance subsidiary of ENEC mandated to operate and maintain the plant.

With Units 1,2 and 3 commercially operating and Unit 4 in the final stage of commissioning, more operators are now in training to ensure a sustainable pipeline of talent for the next 60 years of operations, and the long­term success of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme.

GAC Bahrain completes major solar project

GAC BAHRAIN HAS reached a major milestone in its drive to boost its sustainability with the installation of more than 550 solar panels on the rooftop of its warehouse in Bahrain Investment Wharf in Al Hidd. The solar array is expected to generate up to 487,000 kWh of clean and renewable energy annually and reduce GAC Bahrian’s CO2 emissions by more than 485 tonnes and make about 195 tonnes of standard coal savings in the first year – the offsetting equivalent of Renewable energy solutions provider, Al Mannai Projects, carried out the five­month long project in full adherence with all relevant local regulations and safety standards.

"We are fully committed to minimising our impact on the environment and taking further steps towards sustainability," said Johan Fulke, managing director of GAC Bahrain.

The solar panel project is the latest part of GAC Bahrain's commitment to environmental responsibility, which is aligned with the wider GAC Group’s sustainability strategy that includes a commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and Goal 13: Climate Action. By investing in renewable energy, GAC Bahrain aims to reduce its carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Its efforts are also part of a larger trend towards renewable energy adoption in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which has set a target of generating 5% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025, and the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 30% through local decarbonisation projects and doubling the development of regional renewable infrastructure.

Talal Al Mannai, chief executive officer of Al Mannai Projects, added, "We are delighted to have completed the installation of 550 Wp high­efficiency GCL solar PV modules, high­quality Al Mannai aluminium anodised solar mounting structure and balance of system (BOS) equipment for GAC Bahrain. The project was finished on schedule and met all international and Bahraini Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) standards.”