ACWA Power has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for desalination plants in Egypt to be powered using renewable energy sources, including solar and wind. ACWA will conduct preliminary and feasibility studies for a series of water desalination projects in Egypt. The projects will be powered by solar and wind, or a combination of both renewable energy sources. Upon completion, the studies will be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Utilities & Urban Communities and Egyptian Electricity Holding Company.
The MoU was signed with the Ministry of Housing, Utilities & Urban Communities represented by the New Urban Communities Authority; Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW); and Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy represented by the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company.
The Memorandum of Understanding communicates ACWA Power’s role in conducting a preliminary study as well as a feasibility study to initiate a series of water desalination projects powered by renewable energy in Egypt. Upon completion, the two studies will be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, Urban Communities and the Egyptian Electricity Holding to determine next steps on the projects based on the final results.
The Egyptian government selected ACWA Power as the partner of choice following the company’s proven track record in developing water desalination projects and renewable energy power plants that span global geographies.
ACWA Power is currently developing the world’s largest reverse osmosis desalination plant in Abu Dhabi – UAE, with a production capacity of 909 m3/day. The company is also the largest water and electricity producer in the Sultanate of Oman and generates 40% of desalinated water in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In Egypt, ACWA Power currently leads on a number of renewable energy projects including: Benban PV IPP in Aswan, with a production capacity of 120 MW and total investment of $190 million; and Kom Ombo PV with a production capacity of 200 MW. On the traditional energy front, ACWA Power is working on a combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Luxor which will produce 2250 MW at a cost of over $2 billion.