Turning to the sea: Desalination for water security

Desalination isn’t new, but it is assuming a far more prominent role in meeting our water needs.  As climate change intensifies and strains freshwater supplies, more are turning to the sea.

Desalination is becoming a key consideration in water security planning. Population growth in arid and coastal regions, paired with advances in membrane materials, energy recovery, and the integration of renewable energy is making seawater desalination a strategic solution for water availability.

The capital costs can be significant, and the price per cubic meter of water is comparatively higher, but the momentum is undeniable. According to various industry estimates, the global desalination market is worth around US$20 billion in 2025 and anticipated to grow to around US$40 billion by the 2030s.

At De Nora, we see this growth firsthand as we design and deliver custom-engineered reverse osmosis systems. Here are three ways we are addressing the challenges of desalination.

De Nora’s UHPRO Brine Positive solution addresses common challenges faced by desalination projects, such as brine management. UHPRO Brine Positive helps overcome additional permitting requirements which are needed for new intake and outfall systems. We are currently deploying this technology to treat over 1000 cubic meters of brine per day from an existing desalination plant, hence reusing what was once a waste stream to extract more water.

The FDUs will use De Nora’s modular design for desalination units. It is a flexible, scalable solution that helps both municipal and industrial clients respond quickly to demand or urgent situations.

For remote locations, our containerized seawater reverse osmosis systems help industrial clients maintain reliable water supplies for both process and potable needs, even in the most challenging environments. We are currently working on such a project with a capacity of over 200 cubic meters of clean water per hour.