Towards greener and economical desalination solutions – Smart Water Magazine

Report on Sustainable Desalination Technologies and Alignment with SDGs

Energy Optimisation: A Core Strategy for SDG 6, 7, and 13

Energy optimisation is a critical component in advancing sustainable and cost-effective desalination, directly supporting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The operational framework for desalinated water production is heavily influenced by energy consumption.

• Financial & Environmental Impact: Industry data indicates that energy constitutes approximately 45% of operational expenditures. Reducing this consumption is paramount for financial viability and ecological sustainability.
• Contribution to SDGs:
  1. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): By lowering operational costs, energy-efficient desalination makes clean water more accessible and affordable.
  2. SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Optimising energy use in a high-demand process contributes to broader goals of energy efficiency.
  3. SDG 13 (Climate Action): Reduced energy consumption directly lowers the carbon footprint associated with water production, mitigating climate impact.

Advanced Membrane Technology: Supporting SDG 9 and 12

Technological innovation in membrane design is a key driver for reducing both cost and resource consumption in desalination, aligning with goals for sustainable industry and responsible production.

• Mechanisms for Cost Reduction:
  • High-permeability designs that lower energy requirements for water passage.
  • Enhanced surface properties to minimise fouling and reduce cleaning cycles.
  • Improved material durability, extending the operational lifespan of membranes.
• Performance Metrics: Advanced membranes can yield energy savings of 10-15% compared to conventional technologies.
• Strategic Implementation: Veolia’s ARAMIS centre of expertise conducts independent assessments to select optimal membrane technologies for specific geographic and operational conditions, ensuring manufacturer-agnostic solutions.
• Contribution to SDGs:
  1. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The development and application of advanced membranes represent a significant innovation in sustainable industrial processes.
  2. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Enhanced durability and efficiency promote responsible production patterns by minimising waste and resource use.

Digital Integration and AI for Enhanced Resource Management

The integration of digital solutions provides a data-driven approach to membrane management, further enhancing efficiency and supporting sustainable production goals.

• Hubgrade Platform: Veolia’s digital platform utilises AI-driven monitoring systems for real-time status updates and predictive maintenance analytics.
• Operational Benefits:
  • Enables data-informed decisions on equipment maintenance and replacement schedules.
  • Extends membrane lifespan and ensures optimal performance.
  • Minimises energy consumption and operational costs through reduced cleaning requirements.
• Alignment with SDG 9 and 12: This smart approach to asset management exemplifies the use of innovative technology (SDG 9) to achieve more responsible and efficient production cycles (SDG 12).

Energy Recovery Systems: A Key Enabler for SDG 7 and 13

The implementation of energy recovery systems is fundamental to creating more sustainable desalination operations by reducing net energy consumption and environmental impact.

• Process Integration: During the pre-treatment stage, where seawater is clarified and filtered, energy recovery devices are coupled with filtration technologies.
• Primary Outcomes: These systems significantly reduce overall power consumption and lessen the dependency on traditional chemical treatments.
• Contribution to SDGs:
  1. SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): By capturing and reusing energy within the system, these devices directly contribute to cleaner and more efficient energy use.
  2. SDG 13 (Climate Action): The reduction in energy demand lowers the overall carbon footprint of the desalination facility, supporting climate action initiatives.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article’s core subject is desalination, a process to produce fresh water. By discussing technologies that make this process more “sustainable and cost-effective,” it directly addresses the challenge of providing clean water, especially in water-scarce regions.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  A primary focus of the article is on “Improving energy efficiency” in desalination. It states that energy accounts for “45% of operational costs” and details methods like advanced membranes and energy recovery systems to reduce power consumption, aligning with the goal of promoting clean and efficient energy.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The text highlights industrial innovation through “smarter membranes,” “AI-driven monitoring systems (Hubgrade),” and “energy recovery devices.” These technological advancements aim to upgrade the infrastructure of water production to be more sustainable and efficient.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article promotes sustainable production patterns by focusing on resource efficiency. This includes minimizing energy consumption, extending the “operational lifespan” of membranes to reduce waste, and reducing the need for “traditional chemicals” through better filtration technologies.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  By emphasizing the reduction of energy consumption, the article implicitly addresses climate action. The section “Capturing energy to lower costs and emissions” makes a direct link between energy efficiency in desalination and the reduction of emissions, which is a key strategy for mitigating climate change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.

   The article supports this target by describing innovations that make the production of desalinated water more efficient and sustainable, thereby helping to ensure a stable supply of freshwater.

2. Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

   This target is directly addressed through the article’s central theme of “energy optimisation.” The text quantifies this improvement by stating that advanced membranes “can achieve 10-15% energy savings compared to conventional options.”

3. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.

   The article exemplifies this target by detailing the adoption of clean technologies like “high-permeability” membranes, “AI-driven monitoring systems,” and “energy recovery devices” to create more sustainable industrial processes for water production.

4. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

   The focus on reducing energy consumption, extending membrane life (“improved durability”), and minimizing chemical use demonstrates a clear effort towards the efficient use of natural resources (energy, materials, water) in the desalination process.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 7.3 (Energy Efficiency): The article provides a direct metric for measuring progress in energy efficiency. The statement that “advanced membranes can achieve 10-15% energy savings” serves as a quantifiable indicator of improvement in energy intensity (energy consumed per unit of water produced).
• Implied Indicator for Target 12.2 (Resource Efficiency): The article implies indicators related to material and operational efficiency. The “improved durability that extends operational lifespan” of membranes is a measure of material efficiency and waste reduction. Furthermore, “reduced cleaning” as a result of smart management implies a reduction in the use of cleaning chemicals and associated resources.
• Implied Indicator for SDG 13 (Climate Action): The mention of lowering “emissions” through energy recovery systems implies an indicator related to the carbon footprint of the desalination process, specifically the amount of CO2 emissions avoided per cubic meter of water produced.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: smartwatermagazine.com