French utility SUEZ, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and German tech company Siemens have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this week to participate in the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and work together on desalination development.
The initiative launched earlier this year following an earlier call from the UAE to ramp up global action on water scarcity. It includes a global five-year competition to develop a breakthrough solution for communities in emerging countries that need sustainable and affordable access to water.
Candidates involved in the competition will be required to build several pilot desalination units and an industrial demonstration unit.
The three parties, including TAQA’s power and water generation business, shared that their international team plans to develop and prove an “innovative and cost-effective desalination technology,” optimising energy consumption.
“We must address the global water scarcity crisis by collaborating with companies and organisations and fast-tracking innovative solutions to address these issues faced by too many people and communities across the globe,” commented Farid Al Awlaqi, Chief Executive Officer, Generation at TAQA.