Israel NewTech reported that IDE Technologies will take part in the building and maintaining of what will be the largest desalination plant in the U.S., using the company’s reverse osmosis technology, under a deal that totals $650 Million for IDE. As reported in Globes, IDE has signed a $150 million contract with one of the largest desalination ventures in the US to plan and supply equipment for the plant, which will be built near the Encina power station in Carlsabad, in San Diego County, California. Reuters estimated the plant to be a nearly $1 Billion project and stated that its objective is to help alleviate the region’s water shortage.
The facility, expected to begin operations in 2016, will produce 54 million gallons (204,412 cubic meters) of potable water each day, making it the largest sea water desalination plant in the United States, IDE said in a statement on Thursday.
The company also reached a 30-year operation and maintenance agreement with Poseidon Resources, which last week said it had secured $922 million funding for the project. Poseidon Resources, a subsidiary of Poseidon Water, said the treated water will be delivered into San Diego County’s water system.
The plant will use IDE’s reverse osmosis technology, which requires less energy and is friendlier to the environment than thermal-based systems. It is part of a plan to have 7% of the region’s water supply come from desalinated sea water by 2020.
“The Carlsbad Desalination Project is a significant milestone for us, California and the U.S. at large, as we believe it will set the stage for the future of desalination in America,” said Avshalom Felber (in WaterWorld), CEO of IDE Technologies Ltd. “For decades, we’ve successfully completed similar projects in countries all over the world, and we’re excited to be a part of what will be the largest desalination plant in the U.S.”
Waterworld also quoted Mark Lambert, CEO of IDE Americas, “Our view is that the Carlsbad project that we’re about to embark upon will accelerate both the visibility of desalination in North America and the ability of potential clients, both public and private, to understand how creative project delivery, creative finance and innovative process design allow these types of projects to happen. The movement in the U.S. toward desalination has been a long time coming, and we’re ready to lead the charge.”
IDE is also helping to construct the largest reverse osmosis plant in the world in Israel. The company is jointly owned by Israeli conglomerate Delek Group and Israel Chemicals.
Article appearing courtesy Israel NewTech.
