Israel’s IDE Technologies is set to win a contract worth more than $100 million to build four additional thermal desalination units at a Tianjin, China, powerplant that will become the country’s largest desal complex when completed. The Kadima-based firm beat out France’s SIDEM, India’s VA Tech Wabag Ltd. and several Chinese companies for the award from Tianjin SDIC, the Chinese powerplant owner. IDE will supply the multi-effect distillation desal units to double production of desalinated water to a total capacity of 200,000 cu meters a day.

Photo Courtesy Ide Technologies

Facility in Tianjin, China, will become the country’s largest desalination plant when its new $100-million addition is completed.

“IDE’s technology will enable us to minimize our environmental footprint while reducing our costs,” says Guo Qugangang, general manager of the Tianjin SDIC powerplant. The firm’s process reuses waste heat from the plant, reducing total desalination costs and minimizing the plant’s heat discharge. Located near Beijing, the powerplant is being built to generate 4,000 MW of power. The IDE units will provide the desalinated seawater required for use in the plant’s steam boilers and drinking water for local residents.

“The project strengthens our position in the strategic China market and in the Asia Pacific region as a whole,” says Avshalom Felber, CEO of IDE Technologies. He did not say when the units would be completed. In December, the firm and Hutchison Water Ltd., Hong Kong, won a build-operate-transfer contract from Israel for the 150-million-cu-meter Soreq desalination plant, the largest of its kind in the world. The company is already involved in the Hadera and Ashkelon desalination plants along Israel’s Mediterranean coast.