Energy Recovery to Supply PX Technology for SWRO Plant in KSA

Energy Recovery, Inc. has been awarded a contract to supply its PX® Pressure Exchanger® energy recovery devices for a new flagship seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant being developed in Saudi Arabia as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 water infrastructure program.

The desalination facility, once operational, will provide a reliable and sustainable source of potable water to approximately one million people across the Makkah, Al-Baha, and Asir regions, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s long-term water security and supporting growing residential, industrial, and pilgrimage-related demand.

Under the contract, Energy Recovery will supply its proprietary PX Pressure Exchanger technology, which will be integrated into the plant’s reverse osmosis process to significantly improve energy efficiency by recovering and reusing hydraulic energy during desalination.

The PX devices are capable of achieving up to 99% energy recovery efficiency, reducing the energy consumption of seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants by up to 60%. Designed with a single moving part and an operating life of approximately 30 years, the technology has been widely deployed in large-scale desalination facilities worldwide.

Saudi Arabia currently relies on desalination for more than 70% of its potable water supply, making continued investment in advanced desalination technologies a key pillar of the Kingdom’s National Water Strategy and Vision 2030. The new plant will play an important role in ensuring a dependable freshwater supply for western and southern regions of the Kingdom, including the holy city of Makkah, which welcomes millions of pilgrims annually.

Commenting on the award, Rodney Clemente, Senior Vice President of Water at Energy Recovery, said the contract reflects the confidence placed in the company’s technology as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its world-class water infrastructure. He added that the Kingdom is making steady progress toward its Vision 2030 water security objectives, and Energy Recovery is proud to support the development of one of the region’s most important desalination projects through its high-efficiency energy recovery solutions.