Taweelah Desalination Plant Overview 

The AI Taweelah desalination plant was initiated in 2019. It is one of the world’s largest RO facilities. This project is also one of the largest desalination plants in the UAE.  Also, this is the first IWP(Independent Water Plant) project in Abu Dhabi.

Its first phase connected to the Abu Dhabi power corporation network began its commercial operation in December 2021 producing 100 million gallons of desalinated potable water per day i.e. 909,200 m3/day. 

The second phase produced another 100 million gallons of water per day. This leads to an overall plant capacity of 200 Million Gallons of desalinated fresh water per day. The Taweelah desalination plant has a 44% bigger capacity than the world's largest RO plant. 

This project is a new benchmark with the adoption of RO desalination technology instead of thermal desalination. It makes it more efficient and cost-effective.

The Taweelah desalination plant was built by a joint partnership. TAQA group (Abu Dhabi National Energy) and Mubadala Investment Company, and ACWA Power. The plant construction was completed by 2022 and began its operations by 2023.

The Taweelah desalination plant fulfills the water needs of millions of people in Abu Dhabi. It is a step towards contributing to the UAE’s 2050 Energy Strategy that aims to decarbonize the energy sector. 

Taweelah Desalination Plant Background 

The project was initiated in 2019 and was designed in two phases. This plant is a power generation and water desalination plant. 

The objective of this project is to produce desalinated water and power to meet people's drinking and power requirements.

ACWA Power is the major developer of this project, and it was initiated as the WPA-BOO(Whole Portfolio Agreement - Build Own Operate) contract for 30 years. 

Initially, the project was built with a capacity to produce 100 million gallons of desalinated water per day. The plant's second phase produces another 100 million gallons of desalinated water. 

The overall water complex capacity of the AI Taweelah plant is 200 million gallons of desalinated water per day.

Hence, one of the largest RO-based desalination facilities in the world. 

Taweelah Desalination Plant Timeline

Taweelah Desalination Plant Scope 

The AI Taweelah desalination plant is a SWRO(Seawater Reverse Osmosis) desalination plant. Its desalination technology is designed to produce water through low carbon-intensive technologies. Hence, more clean energy.

The Project is divided into two phases to achieve an overall capacity of 200 million gallons of desalination per day and meet the growing water demand.

Phase 1

The first phase of AI Taweelah IWP produces 454.6 thousand cubic meters of desalinated water per day. This accounts for 50% of the plant’s capacity. It successfully began its operation on 23rd June 2022 providing 100 million gallons of desalinated water per day.

Phase 2

The second phase of AI Taweelah along with the first phase can produce 200 million gallons of desalinated water. This accounts for 909,200 cubic meters of water production per day. It was completed by Q1 in 2023. 

Plant Design 

The AI Taweelah power and desalination plant is divided into 3. It consists of two power and a water plant. The Taweelah A1 and Taweelah B are the Taweelah power plants. Similarly, Taweelah RO is the third part of the Taweelah desalination plant. 

Taweelah A1 

The Taweelah A1 is unique as it includes a power plant and thermal-based desalination facility too. It is equipped with ten gas turbines, three steam turbines, and ten heat recovery steam generators. 

Taweelah B and Taweelah RO

The Taweelah B desalination complex consists of three power generators to produce power to fulfill the electricity demand, and desalination facilities to produce desalinated water. The Taweelah RO is the third part of the AI Taweelah Power and Desalination Complex. 

Taweelah Desalination Plant Cost

The project cost of the AI Taweelah power and desalination plant is estimated to be USD 874 to 900 million. Since the project was built in two phases several investors who are a part of this project. These include TAQA (Abu Dhabi National Energy Company), ENGIE, Marubeni, BTU Power, Powertek, Kyuden, and Mubadala Investment Company are a few prominent investors in this project. 

This seawater desalination plant project received a finance loan of USD 758 million with a contract of 32.4 years under the “sustainable loan” qualification for a water desalination project. The Project is built based on a WPA- BOO for an agreement of 10 years. It is currently operated and managed by NOMAC (National Operation & Maintenance Company).

Contractors Involved 

Benefits of the Project

The AI Taweelah power and desalination complex has numerous benefits. These include the following: 

Environmental 

The AI Taweelah(IWP) desalination plant is partially powered by solar energy. This accounts for 30% less power consumption by the project’s power capacity within eight years. The aim is to shift the major power supply of this project to solar-based so that it can account for 55% of the project's power capacity by the end of the project’s first quarter life.  

Economic 

The shift to solar-based plants can reduce the carbon footprint and also reduce the power consumption. Thus, reducing the plant’s operational costs. 

Social 

The AI Taweelah desalination plant is the second-largest desalination plant in the UAE. It is one of the major sources of drinking water for the people of the UAE. Likewise, the AI Taweelah power plant ensures the production of sufficient power required to fulfill the power demand.

Localizing Knowledge 

This AI Taweelah power plant is a partially solar-based plant in Abu Dhabi that supports the UAE’s 2050 Energy Strategy which aims to decarbonize the nation’s energy sector. 

Conclusion

The AI Taweelah desalination plant produces 200 million gallons of desalinated water per day and 69 Megawatts of power. This project is the second-largest desalination plant in the UAE. Currently, this project successfully fulfills 90% of the UAE’s water needs. The AI Taweelah RO Desalination plant is the new benchmark for reducing carbon footprint through a solar energy-based plant. Thus, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. 

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