Abu Dhabi has joined a new global alliance working towards developing carbon-neutral methods of desalination. With demand for potable water on the rise, the renewable energy company Masdar and more than 80 other signatories – the Global Clean Water Alliance – have set a goal to reduce carbon emissions from desalination by up to 270 metric tonnes annually before 2040.

Energy consumption from desalination in the UAE and Saudi Arabia is expected to increase considerably in line with rising water demand, almost tripling between 2006 and 2025, according to a 2013 study published in the International Journal of Thermal and Environmental Engineering.

In the UAE, the annual total consumption for desalination was almost 65,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2006 and could nearly triple to more than 145,000 GWh by 2025. The figures for Saudi Arabia are equally staggering, the annual total energy consumption for desalination was about 48,000 GWh in 2006 and is expected to reach just above 119,000 GWh by 2025.

However, energy efficient technology could save as much as 17 per cent of electricity consumed for desalination in Saudi Arabia, and 16 per cent in the UAE in 2025, according to the same research. And with more than USD 300 billion being invested in GCC water projects between 2012 and 2022, this energy-saving potential could soon become a reality.

The International Water Summit (IWS), part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and hosted by Masdar, plays an integral role in helping the water sector achieve its sustainability goals by allowing business innovators to connect with investors and decision makers.

Held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 18-21 January 2016, IWS is the ideal platform for stakeholders to network, engage, and exchanging ideas for the common goal of securing a sustainable water future both regionally and globally. This is a part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2016.

This show the dedication & Commitment of UAE towards sustainability & Eco-Conservation. I visited the same last year & it was amazing experience as my Brother Raunak has won an Electric Bike. Happy & proud to be a part of such a responsible Nation.

Sourcee: WAM, The National, Gulf News