RENEWABLE ENERGY POWERED DESALINATION IN AFRICA
INTRODUCTION
InnoSun Energy Holdings, a subsidiary of French company InnoVent, is expanding its presence in Namibia by constructing a 9.8 MW solar farm in the Erongo region at Trekkopje. This solar project aims to supply clean electricity to the Erongo water desalination plant, owned by Orano (formerly Areva), a major French uranium company. InnoSun previously signed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Orano for a 5 MW solar power plant to power another desalination plant at Wlotzkasbaken in the same region.[i]
Seawater desalination, which involves the process of removing dissolved salts and other minerals from seawater, making it suitable for drinking or irrigation, has the potential to be a climate adaptation investment opportunity in certain African countries.[ii] The frequency of droughts and floods in Sub-Saharan Africa has drastically increased over the past 50 years, and this trend is expected to worsen due to global warming.[iii] Water scarcity is a hallmark of poverty, with half of the world's population experiencing severe water shortages for at least one month per year. Meeting Sustainable Development Goals is impossible without adequate access to water, and food security is of particular concern due to falling crop yields and rising food prices in many parts of Africa.[iv]
DESALINATION IN AFRICA
The looming challenge of the 21st century is the intersection of climate change, rapid urbanization, and economic growth, which promote the scarcity of freshwater. Africa, a major focal point, experiences varied water issues. The arid North faces physical scarcity due to low water availability, while Sub-Saharan regions grapple with economic scarcity tied to poor governance and infrastructure.[v]
Desalination is a crucial solution for water security in Africa as it can generate water independently of weather and hydrology, making it applicable to diverse sources like brackish groundwater, surface water, and wastewater. This helps to create resilience in the water supply.[vi]
Seawater desalination is critical in meeting global water demand, with over 20,000 desalination plants in 150 countries. Particularly in Africa, where 20% of the population reside along the coast, desalination is crucial, although the demand varies across regions. Future growth is expected, especially in North Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.[vii]
In addition, technological advancements have made desalination more energy-efficient. The adoption of renewable energy has significantly reduced emissions, making renewable powered desalination a crucial solution to tackle water scarcity without exacerbating climate change issues.[viii]
A recent report identified four African countries with high-water stress levels and long coastlines, making them potential markets for desalination's positive impact[ix]. These countries include:
Egypt
A growing population, climate change concerns, and upstream developments on the Nile River are contributing to escalating water scarcity in Egypt. The country fell below the absolute water poverty threshold of 500m3/capita/year in 2022. Egypt plans to use desalination as one pillar of its strategy to secure water for municipal supply and irrigation, with a goal of building 6.5 million cubic meters of desalination capacity by 2050. The government's new public-private partnership drive for desalination plants makes the institutional environment more attractive for private finance.
Morocco
To meet the water demands of its expanding population, Morocco requires an annual budget of $943 million until 2030. As part of a comprehensive national water strategy, the country plans to increase its desalination capacity from 132 MCM/year to an impressive 1,000 million cubic meters (MCM)/year. The public sector is committed to sponsoring large-scale desalination plants under build-own-transfer contracts. Additionally, the 2020 law permits public-private partnerships (PPPs) to support this vital endeavor. The Ministry of Agriculture is at the forefront of pioneering desalination techniques for agricultural purposes.
Namibia
Currently, Namibia's only large-scale desalination facility is the Erongo Desalination Plant, which was originally constructed in 2010 to supply Orano's Trekkopje Uranium Mine. The plant now primarily supplies other local mines, industries, and communities via NamWater, the state utility provider. The country has piloted several mini solar seawater and brackish water reverse osmosis plants for rural communities and agriculture, which could see further implementation. Small-scale units have also been constructed by local industries for captive supply. Although aging and incomplete infrastructure is the national water utility's greatest threat and the focus of investment in Namibia's water sector, the government wants to fast-track new municipal water supply and is considering a new desalination plant in the Erongo region through its new PPP initiative. The development would provide bulk water for the capital, Windhoek, neighbouring coastal communities, and potentially Botswana's capital, Gaborone, which is 1,400 km away.
South Africa
Desalination is a critical component of South Africa’s National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, which was developed to address the sector's estimated annual capital funding gap of $2.3 billion.
Recent developments suggest that there are increasing opportunities for private investment in the water sector. In August 2020, the government established the Infrastructure Fund, which has a budget of $6.8 billion over the next decade and will blend its own financing with private capital. Additionally, the new National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) will consolidate the functions of the Department for Water and Sanitation and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority. The NWRIA is expected to raise private finance through bulk water user charges, following the successful approach employed by the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority for raising commercial finance. The government has also announced plans to establish a municipal PPP unit focused on build-operate-transfer projects for desalination, as current financing mechanisms pose a challenge to investment.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY POWERED DESALINATION IN AFRICA
Renewable powered desalination exists as a key solution to tackle water scarcity without exacerbating climate change issues. Nevertheless, there are key considerations that need to be factored at the project level. When evaluating a project, it is essential to take into account various factors that can impact its success and sustainability. These factors include the technical feasibility of the project, legal implications, potential impact on the environment, in addition to economic and social implications. By considering all of these aspects, stakeholders can make informed decisions and ensure that the project meets the needs of all parties involved. Considerations for undertaking renewable powered desalination projects include:
Renewable Energy Incentives: African governments are encouraged to offer incentives, such as subsidies or tax breaks, to promote renewable energy projects. These incentives can improve project viability and attract investors.[x]
Land Use and Environmental Regulations: It is imperative to ensure that all necessary environmental regulations are complied with and that all land ownership and leasing agreements are properly addressed to successfully implement both the renewable energy facility and the desalination plant. This will ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations and promote sustainability and responsible resource management throughout the project's lifespan.[xi]
Water Rights and Desalination Regulations: To ensure compliance with local water regulations, obtaining the necessary permits for both water intake and discharge is essential. It is equally important to clearly understand any water allocation quotas or restrictions that may be in place.[xii]
Community Engagement and Local Stakeholders: To effectively carry out operations, it is imperative to actively engage with the local communities, authorities, and other relevant stakeholders. This entails addressing their concerns, promoting transparency in project activities, and obtaining social licenses to operate.[xiii]
Local Ecosystems: When choosing sites for desalination projects, it is essential to consider the numerous regulations governing marine and coastal areas. This is necessary to ensure that projects do not negatively impact the surrounding environment and that they uphold the integrity of the local biodiversity for future generations.[xiv]
Capacity Building: It is crucial to prioritise the promotion of local workforce development to achieve regional growth. This can be accomplished by providing opportunities for skills development and knowledge transfer, which would benefit the local workforce and enhance their expertise in the region.[xv]
Technological Assessment: When choosing a desalination technology, energy efficiency, scalability, maintenance requirements, and local conditions must be considered, as they impact the technology's effectiveness and sustainability. Energy efficiency determines the amount of energy needed for clean water, scalability determines expansion capability, maintenance ensures longevity and local conditions affect desalination process efficiency.[xvi]
CONCLUSION
In Africa, the water crisis is a significant challenge, worsened by climate change and urbanization. Desalination, particularly renewably powered, can offer a promising solution when combined with blended water sources and reduced costs. With careful management and innovation, desalination can contribute to water security and sustainable agriculture across the continent.
[i] Jean Marie Takouleu, ‘NAMIBIA: InnoVent builds a 10 MW solar farm for desalination in Erongo’ <https://www.afrik21.africa/en/namibia-innovent-builds-a-10-mw-solar-farm-for-desalination-in-erongo/ >
[ii] British International Investment, ‘Opportunities for impact in desalination’ < https://www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insight/insight/articles/opportunities-for-impact-in-desalination/ >
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] ‘Making seawater drinkable: An investment opportunity in Africa?’ <https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/making-seawater-drinkable-an-investment-opportunity-in-africa/150579/ >
[vi] Esmaeli Ahmadi, ‘The Role of Renewable Energy Resources in Sustainability of Water Desalination as a Potential Fresh-Water Source: An Updated Review’ < https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/13/5233 >
[vii] African Business, ‘Can desalination plants solve Africa’s water crisis?’ < https://african.business/2021/10/energy-resources/can-desalination-plants-solve-africas-water-crisis >
[viii] Paddy Padmanathan, ‘ How technology and entrepreneurship can quench our parched world’ <https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/technology-and-entrepreneurship-can-quench-our-parched-world/ >
[ix] Ibid (v).
[x] Cristina Novo, ‘Economically, renewable desalination is becoming more and more competitive’ <https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/regional-center-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency/economically-renewable-desalination >
[xi] John Nolon, ‘Land Use for Energy Conservation and Sustainable Development: A New Path Toward Climate Change Mitigation’ < https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/46714183.pdf >
[xii] Waterman Engineers Australia, ‘ Water Rights and Desalination Regulations’ <https://watermanaustralia.com/regulatory-considerations-for-seawater-desalination-plants/ >
[xiii] Nadine Heck and others, ‘Management priorities for seawater desalination plants in a marine protected area: A multi-criteria analysis’ < https://osf.io/preprints/marxiv/y2fqr/download >
[xiv] Ibid.
[xv] Ibrahim Al-Mutaz, ‘The continued challenge of capacity building in desalination’ <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229119516_The_continued_challenge_of_capacity_building_in_desalination >
[xvi] Fawazi Banat, ‘Economic and technical assessment of desalination technologies’ <https://desline.com/Geneva/Banat.pdf >