Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (Qeeri), one of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s research institutes, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop science-based programmes and install pilot tests for the development of desalination facilities to be in line with water
security initiatives in Qatar.
One of the overall objectives of Qeeri is to achieve water security in Qatar by increasing access to high-quality, adequate, affordable and sustainable water that meets and supports the country’s fast-expanding and evolving social and development programmes.
The research conducted at the institute is guided by an aim to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs and minimise health risks and environmental impacts.
The reverse osmosis (RO) pilot test will be used to develop and optimise critical pre-treatment processes to ensure reliable operation in desalination facilities, even during algal blooms, and the exceeding of the boron concentration in the RO permeates.
The high-performance multi-effect distillation (MED) pilot test will be used to develop a proof of concept of patented ideas that reduce the energy consumption and improve energy efficiency of MED technology.
QEWC offered and assigned the site on the Dukhan coast to secure the intake/outfall facilities and the electricity required to operate both RO and MED pilot tests continuously. It also agreed to support the project with facilities, utilities and skilled labour to
ensure 24x7 continuous operations.
Qatar depends on desalinated seawater to satisfy 99% of its municipal water demand. The desalination methods used in Qatar and most of the GCC region are energy-intensive and thus the desalted water is expensive.
Dr Khalid al-Subai, acting executive director at Qeeri, said: “This agreement with QEWC is crucial to test some of the processes developed by Qeeri that can radically reduce the cost and energy use of current desalination methods. We highly appreciate QEWC’s offer.”  
Fahad H al-Mohannadi, general manager and managing director of QEWC, noted: “Qatar Electricity and Water Company aims to address future challenges in water scarcity and has selected a partner for future research to build capabilities in Qatar and recognise ways and means to overcome those challenges, with the best possible technologies.”