Global Desalination Market Report by Technology (Reverse Osmosis, Multi-stage flash (MSF) Distillation, Multi-effect (MED) distillation, and Others), Application (Municipal, Industrial, Others), Water Source (Seawater, Brackish Water, River Water, and Others), Regions and Company Analysis 2024-2032

Global Desalination Market Analysis

Global Water Desalination Market share is expected to be almost US$ 36.98 Billion by 2032. The CAGR for the market from 2024 to 2032 is 9.61%. Renub Research stated that it amounted to US$ 16.19 Billion in 2023.

Communities increasingly receive vital water resources through desalination methods for purifying wastewater, brackish water, and saltwater. It is one of the most popular ways to get fresh water for farming or human consumption. Naturally, desalination happens as part of the water cycle. Rain is created when clouds are formed by the evaporation of seawater, leaving salt behind. Seawater desalination was employed over the centuries, mostly aboard boats and submarines, to supply the crew with fresh water during extended voyages. However, this procedure was unavailable on a large scale until the Industrial Revolution, mainly the creation of desalination plants. A study conducted by researchers at the United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWE) found that roughly 16,000 desalination plants are operating worldwide, dispersed across 177 countries, and that these plants collectively produce about 95 million m3/day of fresh water.

Global Water Desalination Market Trends

•    Increased urbanization and growing water scarcity in some regions of the world

Urbanization is accelerating worldwide. The United Nations estimated that the number of people living in cities worldwide grew from 0.8 billion (29.6%) in 1950 to 4.4 billion (56.2%) in 2020 and is expected to reach 6.7 billion (68.4%) by 2050. Many metropolitan populations around the world are currently experiencing water scarcity. Water scarcity will affect one-third to almost half of the world's urban population by 2050, according to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2023. The demand for domestic and industrial water in metropolitan areas is predicted to rise in response to population expansion, urbanization, and socioeconomic development. In this situation, desalination of saltwater is essential to sustainably supplying freshwater. 60% of the pure freshwater is used for human consumption, even if it is also utilized for various industrial and agricultural operations. The global water desalination market is growing as a result.

•    Population growth drives the water desalination market

Every year, the global issue of water scarcity gets worse. The growth of the population and all of its consequences are driving it. The United Nations estimated that the world's population will rise by about 2 billion over the next 30 years, from 8 billion to 9.7 billion in 2050, with a potential peak of almost 10.4 billion in the middle of the 1980s. Over the past century, as the world's population has grown at historic rates, the amount of water accessible has either stayed constant or, in many circumstances, completely drained. The United Nations World Water Development Report stated that almost 6 billion people will experience clean water scarcity by 2050, representing slightly less than half of the world's population (3.6 billion, or 47%) who currently live in areas where there is at least one month of water scarcity annually. Desalination is a tenable fix for this issue. This population growth is expected to fuel the global water desalination industry.

•    Technological advancements add to the growth of the worldwide water desalination industry

Cutting-edge desalination and water treatment technologies have the potential to strengthen water security, achieve a circular water economy, and increase climate resilience. The hybrid desalination system is one example of such innovation. Hybrid desalination systems integrate the relative advantages of many desalination processes. Because hybrid systems can improve the recovery rate and overall water quality while consuming less energy and causing less scaling and fouling, some studies have shown them to be more cost-effective than standalone systems for desalinated water. Further, in September 2023, engineers from China and MIT hope to use a solar-powered, ocean-inspired technology that is entirely passive to convert saltwater into drinking water. Compared to all other passive solar desalination systems presently under testing, the novel technology exhibits more excellent rates of salt rejection and water generation. According to the researchers, it could generate 4 to 6 liters of drinkable water each hour and function for several years before needing new parts. The water desalination market is expanding globally because of these technological developments.

United States Water Desalination Market

The United States has a major presence in the desalination market, especially in arid areas like California and Texas, where scarcity is a huge concern. With latest advancement in the reverse osmosis and energy-efficient desalination technologies, the United States has been expanding its projects to meet the requirements of growing urban populations and industrial needs. Incentives from the government and investments in infrastructure are boosting this market. For example, the California Carlsbad Desalination Plant is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere, demonstrates the country's commitment to water management sustainability, and reinforces the regional desalination market.

Spain Water Desalination Market

Spain is the biggest player within the European space of desalination, mainly due to its semi-arid climate and the great extent of its coastline. Desalination is vital for the country, where it is highly complementary to agriculture, tourism, as well as water supply in cities, particularly in Alicante and the Canary Islands. Spain's innovative desalination plants utilize renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to minimize their environmental impact. The government's emphasis on sustainable water management aligns with the European Union's green initiatives, which further drives the desalination market. Additionally, Spain's expertise in this field has positioned it as a technology exporter, enhancing its influence in the region's overall market.

India Water Desalination Market

With increasing water scarcity and urbanization, the desalination market in India has been rapidly growing, supported by industrial demand. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are major coastal regions harnessing desalination to mitigate acute water shortages. The government has committed significant investment in desalination infrastructure through initiatives such as the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and public-private partnerships. Modern technologies like reverse osmosis, renewable energy integration, and others are being embraced to help improve efficiency and cut operational costs. Such projects as the Nemmeli Desalination Plant in Tamil Nadu reflect India's commitment to solving problems relating to water management systems. Rising population and climate change impacts are changing India's traditional situation where desalination has become critical in management policy, offering enormous growth opportunities for local and international players in the market.

UAE Water Desalination Market

The UAE is a major desalination market in the Middle East and providing drinking water in one of the driest regions in the world. It utilizes state-of-the-art desalination techniques, such as reverse osmosis and nanofiltration, to address increasing demands from urbanization and industrial growth. Masdar City and Taweelah are massive, energy-efficient desalination projects in the UAE. The UAE integrates renewable energy into its desalination systems as part of its sustainability goals. Government initiatives and private sector partnerships ensure the UAE leadership in the region's desalination market.

Saudi Arabia Water Desalination Market

Saudi Arabia leads the global water desalination market. This is due to the growth in desalination investment. The current expenditure on proposed or ongoing regional desalination projects, totaling $39.3 billion, is reported in the 4th MENA Desalination Projects 2023 Report. The most prominent investors in these nations are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with $14.58 billion and $10.28 billion in projects, respectively. As much as 60% of the Kingdom's water supply in 2019 came from desalination, most of which came from the government-owned Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC).

It is arid in Saudi Arabia. In many places, people rely on converting salt water from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf into fresh water that is safe to drink. This refers to the procedure of desalination. Nevertheless, because desalination mostly requires gas and oil, observers claim it harms the environment. Saudi Arabia wants to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. Thus, the nation's leaders declare their intention to cut back on the production of carbon emissions. Solar panels are used at a desalination plant in the country's east. Large-scale solar power desalination is being used for the first time in Saudi Arabia at the Jazlah plant. The officials stated that the panels will contribute to yearly savings of 60,000 tons of carbon emissions. The growing demand for solar desalination is driving the water desalination industry.

Global Water Desalination Industry News

Acciona, Dow, Evoqua Water Technologies, Siemens AG, DuPont, Doosan Enerbility, Toray Industries, Inc., and Xylem are among the leading businesses in the Global Water Desalination Industry.

• In April 2023 - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) awarded funding to a project headed by Assistant Professor Jovan Kamcev. The project is one of 12 that aim to increase the energy efficiency of desalination and water reuse technologies nationwide.
• In April 2023 - SUEZ and its Chinese counterparts, Wanhua Chemical Group (Wanhua) and China Railway Shanghai Engineering Bureau Group (CRSH), formally signed a partnership agreement for a seawater desalination scheme for industrial applications as part of President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to China from April 5 to 7.
• In May 2023 - Xylem Inc. declared that it had successfully finished the acquisition of Evoqua Water Technologies, a supplier of services and solutions for water and wastewater treatment.
• In March 2023 - Marubeni Corporation, in partnership with Transelec Holdings Rentas Limitada, a well-known power transmission firm in Chile, established a desalination and water transmission venture for Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile through a specific purpose company.
• In February 2023 - Municipal Commissioner and administrator Chahal said the BMC's desalination plant project would be near Manori, and the work order would probably be issued by August. Once the tender is finalized, bids will be requested on an internationally competitive basis.

Technology – Market breakup in 4 viewpoints:

1.    Reverse Osmosis
2.    Multi-stage flash (MSF) Distillation
3.    Multi-effect (MED) distillation
4.    Others

Application – Market breakup in 3 viewpoints:

1.    Municipal
2.    Industrial
3.    Others

Water Source – Market breakup in 4 viewpoints:

1.    Seawater
2.    Brackish Water
3.    River Water
4.    Others

Country – Market breakup of 25 Countries:

1.    North America

1.1    United States
1.2    Canada

2.    Europe

2.1    France
2.2    Germany
2.3    Italy
2.4    Spain
2.5    United Kingdom
2.6    Netherlands
2.7    Rest of Europe

3.    Asia Pacific

3.1    China
3.2    Japan
3.3    India
3.4    South Korea
3.5    Australia
3.6    Rest of Asia Pacific

4.    Latin America

4.1    Brazil
4.2    Mexico
4.3    Argentina
4.4    Rest of Latin America

5.    Middle East & Africa

5.1    United Arab Emirates
5.2    Kuwait
5.3    Qatar
5.4    Saudi Arabia
5.5    Rest of Middle East and Africa

All the Key players have been covered from 3 Viewpoints:

•    Overview
•    Recent Development
•    Revenue Analysis

Company Analysis:

1.    Acciona
2.    Dow
3.    Evoqua Water Technologies
4.    Siemens AG
5.    DuPont
6.    Doosan Enerbility
7.    Toray Industries, Inc.
8.    Xylem 

Report Details: