In November 2017, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that the research group GMVP had opened an SWRO-PRO pilot at the Nambu wastewater plant in Busan. Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) was to harvest energy from the salinity difference between reverse osmosis brine and membrane bioreactor effluent, aiming to cut energy demand by 25 per cent. GS E&C handled design, construction and operation, and Toray Chemical Korea developed the spiral wound modules. After over a year of trials the unit had moved to the coast, funded by MOLIT and KAIA.
The report showed researchers at the time trying to couple desalination with wastewater treatment in order to lower power use and reduce brine discharge to the sea.