"Water-Starved Saudi Arabia Faces the Heavy Toll of Desalination"

Saudi Arabia, a water-starved country, heavily relies on desalination to provide potable water to its cities and towns. However, the kingdom's growing desalination needs clash with its sustainability goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. To address this challenge, the Jazlah plant in Jubail city integrates desalination with solar power, aiming to save around 60,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. With plans to accommodate a population of 100 million people by 2040, Saudi Arabia must scale up such innovations to meet its water demands while minimizing environmental impact. The national Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) aims to reduce carbon emissions by transitioning from thermal plants to electricity-powered reverse osmosis, and expanding solar power capacity. However, the environmental toll of desalination remains a concern, and the country's water infrastructure is crucial for its survival.