Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), Masdar and Khalifa University of Science and Technology

• Agreement ensures cooperation between three organisations for knowledge exchange and joint R&D activities to enhance economic and technical benefits of desalination and reduce costs of sustainable desalination technologies
• Agreement also includes opportunities to carry out Masdar’s advanced education and training programs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), a Saudi Government Corporation responsible for power generation and supplying various regions in the Kingdom with desalinated water, and the Abu Dhabi-based Khalifa University of Science and Technology, represented by Masdar Institute, to accelerate the development and commercialization of sustainable desalination technologies needed to enhance regional water security. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the International Water Summit, a key event of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2018, the region’s largest gathering on sustainability.

The MoU was signed by HE Eng. Abdullah Alabdulkarim, Deputy Governor for Planning and Development, SWCC, Bader Al Lamki, Executive Director, Clean Energy, Masdar, and Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Interim Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology.

The agreement ensures cooperation between the three organizations for exchange of information and joint research and development activities in collaboration with the Desalination Technologies Research Institute to demonstrate the validity of seawater desalination using clean energy technologies. The agreement also explores opportunities for the SWCC to carry out Masdar’s advanced education and training programs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.

The ultimate aim of the agreement is to provide a framework for mutual cooperation toenhance the economic and technical benefits of desalination, as well as innovating new methods to reduce the costs of sustainable desalination technologies.

HE Eng. Abdullah Alabdulkarim, Deputy Governor for Planning and Development, SWCC, said: “The memorandum of understanding between the three organizations represents a starting point to cooperate and work under the partnership and the integrated visions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to enhance the historical and future ties and supporting cooperation between them. The parties will also discuss development projects related to desalination technologies and localization of these technologies in the Gulf region, as well as supporting the development of clean energy projects, reduce costs, and exchange information and research among them.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar said: “Seawater desalination is a costly and energy-intensive process, underscoring the importance of developing engineering and technology improvements that make seawater desalination more efficient and sustainable. By partnering with regional leaders in the area of desalination research and development, Masdar is strengthening its capabilities in sustainable water desalination technology development