A five-year global competition has been launched with the goal of reimagining systems, methods, and materials to advance desalination technologies. French utility firm SUEZ, Germany’s Siemens, and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to participate in the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. The initiative seeks to ensure sustainable and affordable water access for communities in emerging countries.

This global competition aims to drive innovation in desalination technologies, encouraging the widespread adoption of desalination in a manner that promotes socio-economic equity and environmental sustainability.

Farid Al Awlaqi, CEO of Generation at TAQA, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing global water scarcity: “We must address the global water scarcity crisis by collaborating with companies and organisations and fast-tracking innovative solutions to address these issues faced by too many people and communities across the globe.”

As the largest producer of desalinated water in the UAE, TAQA is committed to delivering potable water through energy-efficient methods. This commitment is exemplified by the company’s ownership stake in the Taweelah Reverse Osmosis Independent Water Plant, one of the world's largest reverse osmosis facilities, with a capacity of 200 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD).

Through the partnership outlined in the MoU, TAQA’s power and water generation business is joining forces with SUEZ and Siemens to develop and demonstrate an innovative, cost-effective desalination technology. The goal is to create a sustainable solution that optimizes energy consumption and ensures affordability, making desalination technologies more accessible to a broader range of countries.

SUEZ will contribute its expertise in research and development, while Siemens will provide technologies and industry knowledge to help revolutionize the water sector. This collaboration is intended to foster significant advancements in desalination that will support both environmental sustainability and economic accessibility.