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Marsa Alam Solar Desalination (KarmWater)

Alexandria, Egypt

1970 - Ongoing

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Project Description

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The Marsa Alam Solar Desalination (KarmWater) is a new renewable energy and water initiative for the Red Sea resort city of Marsa Alam, Egypt.¹ Distinguished as the first solar-powered desalination plant in the region, it integrates solar energy into desalination operations.² Launched in September 2021 alongside the establishment of Karm Solar’s water solutions division, KarmWater.³ The vision of the project is providing fresh, clean water to the heart of the desert, powered by the sun.⁴ The project aims to supply affordable freshwater to remote and water-stressed areas,⁵ cut operational costs by 25% compared to conventional desalination,⁶ and achieve 100% solar energy integration within the next decade.⁷ The initiative supports Egypt’s renewable energy transition and sustainable development goals.⁸

To implement these objectives, the plant produces 300 cube meters of desalinated water, a 50% increase from its original design of 200 cube meters daily.⁹ Its components include:

Reverse-osmosis desalination system with advanced throughput capacity.¹⁰
Solar photovoltaic subsystem, currently providing about 30% of the operational power.¹¹
Integration with the Marsa Alam Solar Grid with a licensed capacity of 10.9 MVA.¹²
Water storage and distribution facilities, supplying freshwater to the Red Sea Diving Safari resort.¹³

In terms of sustainability, the facility reduces costs by 40% compared to grid-powered desalination¹⁴ while achieving 42% better water salinity than the conventional processes.¹⁵ A 25-year Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) with the Red Sea Diving Safari resort ensures long-term operational stability and predictable pricing.¹⁶

The project is led by KarmSolar, acting as developer and technology provider, with Red Sea Diving Safari as the primary client under the WPA.¹⁷ Cooperation between KarmWater technical division and the resort’s infrastructure division ensures smooth integration with the existing facilities.¹⁸

Implementation follows a phased approach toward full solar integration:¹⁹

Phase 1 (2023): Construction and commissioning with partial solar power integration.²⁰
Phase 2 (ongoing): Expansion of solar capacity, surpassing the 30% renewable threshold.²¹
Phase 3 (next decade): Planned transition to 100% solar-powered operations through expanded grid integration.²²

Since its inauguration in May 2023, the Marsa Alam Solar Desalination plant has been fully operational, producing 300 cubic meters of freshwater daily.²³ Upon achieving solar reliance, it will serve as a prototype of sustainable desalination in Egypt’s coastal regions, demonstrating the viability of commercial-scale renewable-powered water production.²⁴

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

Endnotes

References

‘KarmWater opens 1st solar-powered desalination plant in Marsa Alam’. (2023). Zawya. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/utilities/karmwater-opens-1st-solar-powered-desalination-plant-in-marsa-alam-y7mgzspk>
‘KarmWater inaugurates Marsa Alam’s first solar-powered water desalination plant’. (2023). Daily News Egypt. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2023/05/30/karmwater-inaugurates-marsa-alams-first-solar-powered-water-desalination-plant/>
‘KarmSolar launches water solutions division: KarmWater’. (2021). Enterprise Press. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://enterprise.press/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Press-Release-KarmSolar-launches-water-solutions-division-KarmWater.pdf>
‘KarmWater’s Inaugural Project in Marsa Shagra’. (2025). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/news/karmwaters-inaugural-project-in-marsa-shagra>
‘KarmWater: Solar-Powered Water Desalination Solutions’. (2022). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/karmwater>
‘KarmWater: Solar-Powered Water Desalination Solutions’. (2022). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/karmwater>
‘KarmWater’s Inaugural Project in Marsa Shagra’. (2023). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/news/karmwaters-inaugural-project-in-marsa-shagra>
‘KarmSolar is Making Renewable Energy Accessible in Egypt’. (2021). Egyptian Streets. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://egyptianstreets.com/2021/10/14/karmsolar-is-making-renewable-energy-accessible-in-egypt/>
‘Marsa Shagra Resort solar-powered desalination plant in Egypt’. (2023). Construction Review Online. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://constructionreviewonline.com/construction-news/first-solar-powered-water-desalination-plant-in-marsa-alam-egypt-inaugurated/>
‘KarmWater opens 1st solar-powered desalination plant in Marsa Alam’. (2023). Zawya. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/utilities/karmwater-opens-1st-solar-powered-desalination-plant-in-marsa-alam-y7mgzspk>
‘KarmWater’s Inaugural Project in Marsa Shagra’. (2023). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/news/karmwaters-inaugural-project-in-marsa-shagra>
‘KarmWater Inaugurates Solar-Powered Desalination Plant in Marsa Alam’. (2023). Solar Quarter. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://solarquarter.com/2023/05/30/karmwater-inaugurates-solar-powered-desalination-plant-in-marsa-alam/>
‘KarmWater’s Inaugural Project in Marsa Shagra’. (2023). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/news/karmwaters-inaugural-project-in-marsa-shagra>
‘Egypt’s KarmWater launches solar-powered desalination plant for resort city’. (2023). Utilities Middle East. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.utilities-me.com/news/egypts-karmwater-launches-solar-powered-desalination-plant-for-resort-city>
‘KarmWater: Solar-Powered Water Desalination Solutions’. (2022). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/karmwater>
‘KarmWater opens 1st solar-powered desalination plant in Marsa Alam’. (2023). Zawya. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/utilities/karmwater-opens-1st-solar-powered-desalination-plant-in-marsa-alam-y7mgzspk>
‘KarmWater’s Inaugural Project in Marsa Shagra’. (2023). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/news/karmwaters-inaugural-project-in-marsa-shagra>
‘KarmWater inaugurates Marsa Alam’s first solar-powered water desalination plant’. (2023). Daily News Egypt. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2023/05/30/karmwater-inaugurates-marsa-alams-first-solar-powered-water-desalination-plant/>
‘KarmWater’s Inaugural Project in Marsa Shagra’. (2023). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/news/karmwaters-inaugural-project-in-marsa-shagra>
‘KarmWater opens 1st solar-powered desalination plant in Marsa Alam’. (2023). Zawya. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/utilities/karmwater-opens-1st-solar-powered-desalination-plant-in-marsa-alam-y7mgzspk>
‘KarmWater’s Inaugural Project in Marsa Shagra’. (2023). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/news/karmwaters-inaugural-project-in-marsa-shagra>
‘KarmWater’s Inaugural Project in Marsa Shagra’. (2023). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/news/karmwaters-inaugural-project-in-marsa-shagra>
‘KarmWater opens 1st solar-powered desalination plant in Marsa Alam’. (2023). Zawya. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/utilities/karmwater-opens-1st-solar-powered-desalination-plant-in-marsa-alam-y7mgzspk>
‘KarmWater inaugurates Marsa Alam’s first solar-powered water desalination plant’. (2023). Africa.com. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://africa.com/karmwater-inaugurates-marsa-alams-first-solar-powered-water-desalination-plant/>
‘About Us’. (2022). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/about-us>
‘KarmWater: Solar-Powered Water Desalination Solutions’. (2022). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/karmwater>
‘About Us’. (2022). KarmSolar. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.karmsolar.com/about-us>
‘Marsa Alam – About’. (2024). Red Sea Diving Safari. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.redsea-divingsafari.com/about>

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