Jeddah: The Saudi Water Authority has announced a new global achievement with its entry into the Guinness World Records, through a mobile desalination plant in the Yanbu production system, which achieved the lowest energy consumption in the world at 1.55 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per cubic meter. This milestone reinforces the transformation led by the Kingdom in the water sector, moving from operational excellence in production to redefining efficiency itself.
According to Saudi Press Agency, this figure is the result of a research, engineering, and operational journey aimed at tackling one of the most complex challenges in the desalination industry: reducing energy consumption without compromising reliability or production quality, dropping from 1.7kWh to 1.5kWh. Through an integrated design combining advanced reverse osmosis technologies with precise operational engineering enhancements, the plant achieved an unprecedented level of efficiency, earning international recognition from Guinness.
The mobile plant produces 20,000 cubic meters per day within an area not exceeding 3,000 square meters, highlighting efficient land use, maximized asset value, and improved water infrastructure productivity, all under a smarter, more sustainable model.
This plant represents a strategic solution, not a temporary alternative. A new operational model was developed that integrates eco-friendly technologies and advanced filtration systems, enabling the plant to be scalable and adaptable across different operational environments.
This achievement boosts Saudi Arabia's position not only as the world's largest producer of desalinated water but also as a driving force in transforming the future of desalination, powered by national expertise that leads global innovation in the field.