DESALRO® 2.0 sets new global benchmark for SWRO energy efficiency

In line with its objective of conceiving a utility model, ITC designed the 2,500 m3/d DESALRO® 2.0 plant for mobility, fast deployment, and scalability. Fully containerized, its basic design comprises four plug-and-play units: three 40-foot containers (one each for pre-treatment, reverse osmosis, and post-treatment) plus a 20-foot unit for chemical cleaning. 

To meet its ambitious SEC goal, ITC’s design for the reverse osmosis stage integrates several high-efficiency components: positive displacement (PD) pumps for high-pressure delivery, isobaric energy recovery devices, variable frequency drives, and advanced hybrid membranes – together with an optimized hydraulic design to minimize pressure losses – all optimized for maximum energy performance.

ITC specified PD pumps because they offer strong efficiency advantages. Unlike centrifugal pumps, which perform best near a fixed efficiency point, PD pumps maintain high efficiency across a wide range of flow rates and pressures. This flexibility results in consistently lower energy consumption despite seasonal variations in seawater salinity and freshwater demand.

“While every component in a project like this matters,” explains Juan Antonio de la Fuente Bencomo, water researcher at ITC’s Water Department, “the high-pressure pump is the single largest contributor to a SWRO plant’s SEC – and a key driver of long-term operating costs and carbon emissions. To break the 2.0 kWh/m³ barrier, we had to identify and implement the most energy-efficient high-pressure pumps available in the market, and we knew that these would be positive displacement pumps.”

ITC selected two Danfoss APP 65 axial piston pumps running in parallel for testing in the plant’s high-pressure reverse osmosis stage.  

“The choice of PD high-pressure pumps was obvious to achieve the objectives,” says de la Fuente Bencomo. Not only do APP pumps consistently achieve unrivaled energy efficiency in plants of this size, but their compact design also aligns with the plant’s modular, containerized setup. Just as important, their proven reliability in the field makes them well suited for a replicable system where long-term performance, minimal maintenance, and operational stability are essential.

During more than one year of operation since January 2024, DESALRO® 2.0 has achieved a record-low SEC in the range of 1.840 - 1.861 kWh/m³. With this performance, the facility would be in a position to improve the current Guinness Record of 2.27 kWh/m³ held by the SWCC in Saudi Arabia.

“This is a significant milestone – not just for the Canary Islands, but for desalination technology worldwide,” says de la Fuente Bencomo. “It shows what’s possible when you combine robust design with innovation and proven technology.”

Thanks to its modular design and scalable components, the DESALRO® 2.0 utility model is already being adopted in a range of municipal projects across the Canary Islands and beyond. One example is the construction of eight new containerized plants for irrigation based on the same configuration. Another is a 5,000 m3/day future plant for domestic purposes. 

“These new installations will bring clean water to more Canary Island sectors, with lower energy use and carbon emissions, than any comparable plant,” de la Fuente Bencomo concludes. “We’re proud to be setting a new standard for more sustainable desalination.”