TRSDC launches freshwater production project using renewable energy

 Logo of Red Sea Development Co.

The Red Sea Development Co. (TRSDC) launched the first freshwater production plant fully extracted from sunlight and air.

The project, in collaboration with desalination firm, SOURCE Global, PBC is in line with the Saudi tourism multi-product sector, which will cover the demand of tourists for the distinctive Red Sea destination by various means, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing Ahmed Ghazi Darwish, chief of staff at TRSDC.

The solar-powered water desalination plant is the largest of its kind in the world, with a production capacity of two million 330 ml bottles per year. However, the production of 300,000 bottles each year will begin in early stages.

Reusable glass bottles will be refilled within the plant as part of a fully sustainable periodic distribution model, Darwish said, noting that water collection and packaging will contribute to achieving carbon neutrality and eliminating non-recyclable plastic bottles.

He stressed the company's keenness to have ambitious Saudi youth play a key role in achieving these sustainable goals, stating there will be 30 job opportunities at the workstation of which at least 10 will be allocated to Saudis. 

The ideal location has been identified for the construction of the plant, Darwish said, indicating that experts have installed hydrogen panels at the plant site and performed virtual survey.

He explained that 100 hydrogen panels will be installed, with 1,200 hydrogen panels likely to be installed in total in the second and third expansion phase. The plant will be equipped with the necessary machinery, equipment and reusable bottles from companies operating in the Kingdom.

Darwish said that the desalination technology used by TRSDC will fully depend on solar energy to raise condensation levels in the hydrogen panels in order to produce high-quality fresh water.

The desalination technology is wholly sourced from Saudi companies and conforms to local and international water quality standards, including those of the GCC Standardization Organization, Saudi Food and Drug Authority and Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, as well as World Health Organization (WHO).