Energy Recovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERII), the leader in capturing reusable energy from industrial fluid flows and pressures cycles, announced today that  one of the largest reverse osmosis (RO) single train in the world will use its PX Q300 Pressure Exchanger®  technology to desalinate seawater in Al Ghubrah, Oman. The technological first—a desalination mega-project producing more than 191,000 m³/day (50 million gallons per day) of potable and irrigation water in the Middle East North Africa region (MENA)— will feature eight trains, each desalinating 30,000  cubic meters of seawater per day. This configuration will produce potable water for approximately 800,000 residents, easing the intense freshwater needs in the region. The Muscat City Desalination Company (MCDC) formed by Cadagua, Malakoff, and Sumitomo will build, own and operate Al Ghubrah Independent Water.

Energy Recovery’s success in Oman and around the world led the plant-design team to select the PX Q300.  The EPC contractor, International Water Treatment LLC  (formed by Cadagua, Wabag and Galfar)  has  chosen PX technology to ensure  efficient, reliable energy recovery to overcome the challenges of seawater processing in Oman.For an animated video showing how the PX device works, click here.

Cadagua’s Contract Director on the Al Ghubrah Plant shares why International Water Treatment LLC trusts Energy Recovery to deliver the highest possible efficiency:  “Energy Recovery is well-known in the industry and the MENA region.  The highly reliable PX-Q300 was the most advantageous choice for us on an RO train this size,” states Emilio López Pacetti from Cadagua.

In the dry MENA region, seawater desalination is essential to continued prosperity and vitality. The demand for agricultural, drinking, and industrial water continues to increase along with economic development and population growth. Because the region has more than six percent of the world’s population but access to just over one percent of the planet’s renewable fresh water resources, countries like Oman must find sustainable, affordable, and efficient ways to offer potable water to its residents. Seawater processing plants like the Al Ghubrah installation and technologies like Energy Recovery’s highly efficient and reliable solutions are helping to bridge that gap.

Lower processing costs are crucial to the vitality of an area such as MENA where water resources are significantly stressed. The Al Ghubrah plant will see large benefits across its operational expense and impact; CO₂ savings and cost savings annually.  “We designed the PX to be modular and adaptable.  With a bigger PX train, the efficiency values are higher and this reduces the net reverse osmosis process,” states Tom Rooney, CEO of Energy Recovery.

Energy Recovery PX Technology Highlights and Impact

Over the past decade, Energy Recovery has been refining its SWRO clean technologies and employing its premium energy recovery solutions around the world – currently accounting for 90 percent of the ERD market share globally. The EPC consortium selected the PX Q300 device for the Al Ghubrah project because the solution boasts:

  • The lowest life cycle cost of any energy recovery device in the market.
  • Highest guaranteed efficiency of 97.2 percent.
  • Highest availability (99.8 percent uptime) with zero downtime.
  • Smallest installed footprint than any other ERD.
  • Lifetime designed for 25+ years.

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 15,000 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 $1.4 Billion (USD) in energy costs.  Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Energy Recovery has offices in Madrid, Shanghai, and Dubai.  www.energyrecovery.com