The parties will study the potential use of 100% solar power for desalination of seawater.
The project is part of a contract signed in June 2014 by Degrémont, a subsidiary of Suez Environnement, to build a seawater desalination plant potentially powered by 100% renewable energy and with less environmental impact.
GDF Suez’s new R&D laboratory at Abu Dhabi, GDF Suez Lab Middle East, India & Africa, will undertake the research contract.
Laborelec will support the contract, which will be carried out in collaboration with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and Degrémont.
Suez Environnement deputy chief executive officer in charge of the international division Marie-Ange Debon said: "Our company, which is at the cutting edge of water treatment technologies, is proud to participate in this project and to go further in providing sustainable solutions through renewable energy applications."
Degrémont completed the fifth expansion of the Doha West wastewater treatment plant, as well as wastewater treatment plants at Barwa City and Lusail in Qatar.
The company recently supplied and deployed 33 modular desalination units for treating brackish water at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
GDF Suez owns five electricity generation and water production plants in the UAE.
The company manages a portfolio with an electricity production capacity of 27GW and a desalination capacity of 5,273,000 m3/day, in operation and under construction.
Image: Contract signing ceremony. Photo: Courtesy of Sipa Press.
