ACWA Power, a Saudi-listed company and the world’s largest private water desalination company, the first mover into green hydrogen, and a leader in energy transition, today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japanese technology provider Toray Industries, to explore energy-saving technologies for seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants.

Signed on the sidelines of the Saudi-Japan Investment Roundtable organised by the Ministry of Investment, the MoU will see the two companies engaging in joint research to reduce the energy consumption associated with membranes used in ACWA Power’s desalination plants.

ACWA Power will share operational details of its plants with Toray, allowing the latter to analyse and provide commercially viable solutions to improve energy efficiency.

“This collaboration with Toray contributes to our vision to improve the way energy is utilised in the desalination of water, and furthers our commitment to providing potable water to communities in a responsible, sustainable and cost-effective manner” Raad Al Saady, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of ACWA Power.

“We are proud to support ACWA Power’s commitment to sustainability by jointly researching innovative ways to enhance the energy efficiency of membrane technologies, contributing to the overall sustainability objectives of both ACWA Power and Saudi Arabia” Kimio Kimura, President of Toray Membrane Middle East.

Since 2007, ACWA Power has utilised Toray’s advanced solutions in several projects. Currently, nearly 4 million cubic metre per day (m3/day) of desalinated water produced out of eight plants in ACWA Power’s portfolio deploys Toray’s reverse osmosis (RO) products, with another 1.3 million m3/day expected to be added once two other plants achieve commercial operation. The participation represents almost 20 per cent of Toray’s global market presence.

Toray is also involved in a joint venture called Toray Membrane Middle East alongside Saudi-based Abunayyan Holding, which will deliver the Kingdom’s first RO membrane manufacturing plant in Dammam, scheduled to start operations in 2025.