Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has signed a 30-year water purchaser agreement with Saudi’s ACWA Power for phase 1 of the solar-powered Hassyan sea water desalination project, the largest renewable energy Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) water production project in the world.
The project is part of DEWA’s efforts to increase its water desalination capacity to 730 Million Imperial Gallon per Day (MIGD) by 2030, from the current 490 MIGD. It aligns with Dubai’s unparalleled economic growth and the Emirate’s thriving construction sector. This complements the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, addresses the substantial population growth, and meets the steadily increasing demand for water in domestic, commercial, and other consumer sectors.
The agreement was signed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA; and Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman and Founder of ACWA Power.
Supporting Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy
Last August, DEWA announced ACWA Power as the ‘Preferred Bidder’ for the construction and operation of the 180 MIGD Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Hassyan Phase 1 Independent Water Producer (IWP) project, with an investment of $914 million (SAR3.4 billion), and an allocated land area of 252,300 sq m. DEWA achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid of $0.36536/m³ (SAR1.37/m3) of desalinated water.
This is DEWA’s first Independent Water Producer (IWP) model project. The water desalination capacity in Dubai is currently 490 MIGD, and it will increase to 670 MIGD in 2026 with the completion of this project.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, said: “We are pleased to sign the agreement with ACWA Power. This project supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to enhance water supplies in Dubai from sustainable sources and achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.”
He added: “We are building water production plants based on Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) technology which require less energy than Multi-Stage Flash distillation (MSF) plants, making it a more sustainable choice for water desalination. By 2030, DEWA aims to produce 100% of desalinated water by a mix of clean energy and waste heat.”
Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman and Founder of ACWA Power, said: “This agreement between ACWA Power and DEWA is another example of the strong collaboration between ourselves and our valued partners in the United Arab Emirates. The Hassyan IWP will be the largest plant of its kind in the world, and we have set a new record for the lowest levelised water tariff. The plant will be highly efficient, desalinating water through reverse osmosis powered by solar energy. With our years of experience in the industry, ACWA Power has ambitious aims and we are proud of continually breaking records through innovation and using new technologies to enhance water security. With this project, we are reaffirming our commitment with our partners towards achieving the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.”