Energy Recovery, Inc. (Energy Recovery) has been selected by AdelaideAgua, a consortium formed by Acciona Agua, United Utilities Australia, ABI group and McConnell Dowell, to provide PX Pressure Exchanger (PX) energy recovery devices for AUD1.1 billion desalination plant at Port Stanvac, near Adelaide, in South Australia. The consortium has awarded the contract to design, build and operate the 150,000 m3/day seawater desalination plant by South Australian Water Corp.
Acciona Agua has selected Energy Recovery’s PX Pressure Exchanger (PX) energy recovery devices to help reduce the cost of producing water at the plant. Energy Recovery’s PX devices can reduce the amount of energy required in desalination by up to 60%.
“Acciona has deployed ERI’s PX devices in several locations worldwide and have first-hand experience of the PX devices’ ability to reclaim energy,” said Luis Castilla, managing director of Acciona Agua. “ERI is an obvious choice to help ensure that we have highly efficient reverse osmosis system and is producing water in the Adelaide plants with as small a carbon footprint as possible.”
The water crisis currently fascinating Australia prompted the government to revise the construction schedule of the proposed desalination facility in Port Stanvac. The Acciona-led consortium is required to begin delivering the first water in 2010, almost 12 months earlier than originally planned. Adelaide’s water shortage is so dire that the South Australian government is shortly likely to call for a doubling of the water production capacity, to 300,000 m3/day, at the plant.
“Acciona Agua is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and we’re pleased that the company selected Energy Recovery for another project in the region,” said Borja Blanco, Energy Recovery’s vice president of sales. “The water shortage in Australia is severe and Acciona is at the forefront of helping provide the people of Adelaide with the drinking water they need. Energy Recovery’s PX devices can make that water supply more affordable.”
The PX Pressure Exchanger energy recovery devices have been installed in many locations in Australia, including the carbon neutral desalination facility in Perth. This 144,000 m3/day plant has began delivering desalinated water in November 2006 and is supplying about 17% of Perth’s water needs. The plant has reduced energy costs by around 56% by deploying Energy Recovery’s PX devices.
Energy Recovery is a US-based provider of energy recovery products for desalination industry.