Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd. have awarded GE Renewable Energy's Grid Solutions a contract to develop a turnkey substation that will power the Yanbu-4 independent water producer (IWP) plant.

That's the Kingdom's first complete seawater reverse osmosis facility that employs renewable energy. Yanbu-4, which is set to operate in 2023, would have a capacity of 450,000 cubic meters per day of freshwater to supply Makkah and Madinah homes.

Yanbu-4, located 140 kilometers west of Madinah, near the town of Ar Rayyis on the Kingdom's Red Sea coast, will use reverse osmosis technology to provide drinkable water. The facility will incorporate 20 MW solar energy units to minimize grid electricity usage during the desalination process, and also water storage tanks with a capacity of two operational days.

“We are delighted to be performing a vital role in such an innovative project and to be collaborating with GE's Grid Solutions, who have a great track record of executing infrastructure projects in the Kingdom,” said Seoungsan Seo, project director, Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd.

The plant was developed under a build-own-operate contract by Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), as part of a consortium that included ENGIE, Nesma, and Mowah, and will be managed and maintained by ENGIE for a 25-year concession period.

Yanbu-4 will be fully turnkey by a partnership consisting of GE Grid Solutions and Al-Sharif Group, comprising a 380-110 kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substation. Yanbu-4 would get the electricity necessary by each load centre at the plant from the substation.

“The Yanbu-4 project represents an important milestone in the expansion of the Kingdom's water infrastructure,” said Bernard Dagher, president and CEO of GE's Grid Solutions for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. It fits the Saudi leadership's aim of promoting environmental sustainability while fulfilling the rising need for freshwater supply in the cities of Makkah and Madinah as a renewable energy-driven venture.

“This win validates our capacity to be a valued partner in the Kingdom's infrastructure expansion, along with the delivery of complete substations for desalination plants.”

Desalination has shown to be a feasible solution for meeting Saudi Arabia's drinkable water needs. According to a UN University research, Saudi Arabia is the world's largest desalination sector, accounting for 22% of worldwide output.

The major desalination method is reverse osmosis, in which water is forced under high pressure through the fine membranes to create drinkable water. Desalination is a power-intensive procedure, and GE's Grid Solutions assists plants with its technological solutions.