Economics of Desalination and Local Integration: Comparative Analysis of CAPEX, OPEX, and Industrial Dynamics in Water-Scarce Regions
Seawater desalination has established itself as a cornerstone of water security in arid and semi-arid regions. Population growth, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and climate variability have significantly increased pressure on conventional water resources, making the use of non-conventional sources essential. Globally, installed desalination capacity has grown steadily over the past two decades, with tens of thousands of units in operation and daily production exceeding 100 million m³/day [1,2]. This expansion is particularly pronounced in the MENA region, which accounts for a majority of global capacity due to its structural water deficit. Technological advances have profoundly changed the economics of the … Continue reading