In February 2017, Gulf News reported that the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) intended to run its desalination plants on solar energy. At the World Government Summit, managing director Saeed Al Tayer set a goal of 305 million gallons a day by 2030. Cheaper solar-driven reverse osmosis was expected to save $13 billion by then. The power was to come mainly from the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Power Park, planned at 5,000 MW. Underground tanks were to store 5,100 million gallons, enough for 75 days.
The report showed a major Gulf utility linking seawater desalination, solar generation and strategic water storage in one long-term plan aimed at both lower costs and supply security.
Source: Gulf News