Energy Recovery Inc. (NASDAQ: ERII), the leader in capturing reusable energy from industrial fluid flows and pressure cycles, today announced that Spanish water company, Cadagua, has selected the Company’s premium PX® technology to retrofit itsValdelentisco Desalination Plant. Located in Valdelentisco, Murcia, in southeastern Spain, the plant has a potable and irrigation water production capacity of 140,000 m3/d, making it one of the largest desalination plants in Europe. Phase I of this new project which involves a retrofit of two reverse osmosis trains, is one of many for Cadagua and Energy Recovery who have been working together for over a decade, having recently commissioned large plants in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including Morocco and Ajman in the UAE.
Part of a larger trend to retrofit desalination plants around the world, this new project highlights the viability and sustainability of desalination as a solution to the ever growing strain on available fresh water resources. By retrofitting and upgrading with the latest in energy recovery technologies in desalination, plants and municipalities can save money and increase efficiencies. In Spain, Energy Recovery’s technology has been chosen in a majority of 2012-13 retrofit operations, and has saved customers 1.5 billion kWh and more than $158 million per year. Cadagua chose the PX technology not only because of the estimated savings per year for Phase I, but because the plant will not need to replace its existing pump system -adding to the overall increase in savings. The PX device is flexible and adaptable to variable operating conditions allowing the array to be installed with existing equipment.
“Even during hard economic times, we knew investing in Energy Recovery’s solutions would give us the best return on our investment. The cost savings we are expecting to achieve will be vital to the plant’s ability to remain online, and to the development of fresh water production for our country,” exclaims Eva Muñoz, Project Manager from Cadagua.
“In financial crises, it makes sense to cut back. But there are times when investing in smart clean technologies can create greater efficiencies that affect the bottom line. Energy Recovery is proud to help partners Acuamed (owner of the plant) and Cadagua (plant management company) achieve their immediate and long term economic and technology objectives to make water more competitive and affordable,” said Tom Rooney, CEO of Energy Recovery.
This deal comes as no surprise given Spain’s reputation as a pioneer in the global desalination industry. The Spanish government is a strong supporter of developing smarter technologies that bring energy costs down, which ultimately makes water more affordable and competitive, and lowers plants’ operating expenses. This is a testament to Energy Recovery’s highly efficient and reliable solutions. At a time when Spain is experiencing one of the most difficult financial crises in decades, the governmental body that oversees and initiates desalination development, Acuamed, is driving a national effort to invest in making desalination plants more efficient and cost competitive for regional water production.
About Energy Recovery
Energy Recovery Inc. (NASDAQ: ERII) technology harvests power from high-pressure fluid flows and pressure cycles. Through collaboration with industry, Energy Recovery helps make industrial processes within water, oil & gas, and other industries more profitable and environmentally sustainable. With over 14,000 energy recovery devices installed worldwide, Energy Recovery sets the standard for engineering excellence, cost savings, and technical services to clients across the globe. Year after year, the company’s clean technologies save clients over $1.2 Billion (USD) in energy costs. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Energy Recovery has offices in Madrid, Shanghai, and Dubai. www.energyrecovery.com