The global production of desalinated water uses approximately 75.2 terawatt-hours of electricity per year – enough to power nearly 7 million homes. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
The global production of desalinated water uses approximately 75.2 terawatt-hours of electricity per year – enough to power nearly 7 million homes. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

GE, Saudi Aramco launch contest to improve desalination technology



General Electric and Saudi Aramco have launched a US$200,000 technology challenge to help to improve the energy efficiency of seawater desalination.

Current desalination techniques are typically very energy intensive and energy consumption can account for up to 70 per cent of costs, according to a joint statement from the two companies.

The global production of desalinated water uses approximately 75.2 terawatt-hours of electricity per year – enough to power nearly 7 million homes. The goal of the challenge is to identify new ways to lower these costs, through either advances in technology, process improvements or both.

According to the United Nations 2014 World Water Development Report, 25 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s domestic oil and gas production is used to produce water via cogeneration power desalting plants, a figure that may rise to as high as 50 per cent by 2030 if current trends continue.

In Kuwait, projections show that the energy demand of desalination plants in 2035 will be equal to the country’s entire oil production of 2011-12 if current trends continue, the report found.

GE’s ecomagination and Aramco Entrepreneurship are running the competition.

The prize will be shared equally among four winners and extra funds will be available for developing the best ideas.

“Due to increased water scarcity, countries around the world are poised to rely more and more heavily on desalination as a means to provide fresh water,” said Nabil Al Khowaiter, Aramco Entrepreneurship’s director of special projects. “With current techniques, this increased reliance could contribute dramatically to increased energy use.”

Mr Al Khowaiter added that he hoped the competition would attract new technologies and industries to Saudi Arabia.

The open innovation challenge aims to identify new solutions to lower total desalination costs and emissions through cleaner energy sources, incorporating advanced materials and integrating processes better. Solutions must be innovative, impactful, feasible and scalable across the globe, the companies said.

“Through this challenge, we hope to inspire scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators around the world to bring their talents to this effort and help drive greater outcomes for customers,” said Deb Frodl, GE’s global executive director at ecomagination.

Masdar, the Abu Dhabi's clean-energy company, has already announced plans build the UAE's first large-scale water desalination plant to be powered by renewable energy. The company has been lining up technology partners for three trial projects to run until the end of 2015, before construction on the plant begins the year after.

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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)

Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)

Saturday

Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)

Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)

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Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)

Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)

 

 

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

What to watch out for:

Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways

The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof

The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history

Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure

Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used

Key facilities
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MATCH INFO

Norwich City 1 (Cantwell 75') Manchester United 2 (Aghalo 51' 118') After extra time.

Man of the match Harry Maguire (Manchester United)

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
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The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

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SERIES SCHEDULE

First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6