Ras Al-Khair Power and Desalination Plant

The Ras Al-Khair Power and Desalination Plant is a power and desalination plant located in Ras Al-Khair on the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia. It is operated by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation of Saudi Arabia. The plant began operating in April 2014 and, as of January 2017, is the world's largest hybrid water desalination plant.[1][2] The project includes a power plant capable of producing 2400 MW of electricity.[1] In 2015, it won the Global Water Awards "Desalination Plant of the Year" award.[3][4]

Ras Al-Khair Power and Desalination Plant
Country
Location
Coordinates27°32′12″N 49°08′20″E
StatusOperational
Construction began
  • 2011
Commission date
  • April 2014
Construction cost
  • $7,100 million
  • 27,000 million SR (2011)
Operator(s)
Employees
  • 3,500 (2014)
Combined cycle?Yes
IWPP?Yes
IWPP purification method
IWPP water output
  • 1,036,000 m3/d (423,000 cu ft/ks)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity
  • 2,400 MW

History

Construction of the plant began in 2011.[5] Though originally slated to begin producing freshwater by the end of 2013,[6] the first freshwater produced from the plant was in early 2015.[7] Full commercial operation of the plant was achieved in March 2016.[8]

The primary contractors for construction of the plant were the Doosan Group and Saudi Archirodon.[5] Doosan was awarded the prime contract in September, 2010.[9] Additional contractors for the plant included Fluid Equipment Development Company for energy recovery devices, Siemens for generators, turbines, and related equipment, and Hyosung for various motors.[5]

The plant has created 3,500 direct and indirect jobs.[1][10]

Operation

Water intake for the plant comes from the Persian Gulf, on the shore of which the plant sits.[5] The plant includes five high-efficiency gas turbines operated in combined cycle mode and in single mode.[5] It uses a hybrid system of eight multi-stage flashing units and 17 reverse osmosis units.[11] Freshwater output from the plant is pumped via pipelines to Riyadh and Hafr Al-Batin.[1] Electricity and freshwater output from the plant also supply a nearby aluminium oxide refinery.[5] Of the 2400 MW electricity produced by the plant, 200 MW are used by the plant itself.[7] Effluent from the plant is processed locally by a dedicated wastewater treatment plant and discharged into the Persian Gulf.[5]

See also

References
  1. Al-Suhaymi, Obaid (23 April 2014). "World's largest hybrid desalination plant starts pumping – ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English". ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English. Asharq Al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  2. "Largest water desalination plant". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  3. "2015 Nominations Winners Global Water Awards". www.globalwaterawards.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  4. Syed, Imran (26 October 2015). "Saudi desalination tech wins global recognition". Saudi Gazette. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  5. "Ras Al Khair Desalination Plant". Water Technology. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  6. Staff, CW (9 June 2013). "Largest desalination plant in world 75% complete". www.constructionweekonline.com. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  7. Bennett, Anthony. "Innovations and training in desalination – Filtration + Separation". www.filtsep.com. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  8. Ali, Ajaz (27 November 2016). "Multi-commodity minerals hub to contribute $9b annually to non-oil GDP – Saudi Gazette". Saudi Gazette. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  9. Bennett, Anthony (27 November 2014). "Current challenges in energy recovery for desalination – Filtration + Separation". www.filtsep.com. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  10. "Ras Al-Khair's power plant to generate more jobs". Arab News. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  11. Bennett, Anthony. "Advances in desalination energy recovery technologies – World Pumps". www.worldpumps.com. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
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