{"id":771,"date":"2025-11-25T21:44:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T21:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:10004\/?page_id=771"},"modified":"2026-02-11T23:55:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T23:55:21","slug":"desalination-plant-renovation-plan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hidrosolucionescanarias.com\/en\/plan-renove-planta-desaladora\/","title":{"rendered":"Renove Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Desalination plant renovation: Plan Renove desalination plant in the Canary Islands<\/h1>

In the Canary Islands, many desalination plants have been in operation for decades. These old desalination plants<\/strong> often operate with obsolete technologies that involve a high energy consumption<\/strong>, and lower efficiency, and costly maintenance<\/strong>. The desalination plant renovation<\/strong> The old system has become essential to improve performance, reduce costs and ensure a long-term sustainable water supply in the archipelago.<\/p>

\"Old<\/p>

In order to meet this challenge, the concept of a Renewal Plan for desalination plants<\/strong>. This plan consists of a comprehensive modernisation of the old facilities with the latest technologies in reverse osmosis<\/strong> and energy recovery. The approach combines technical improvements (new pumps, energy recuperators<\/strong>, automation) with a clear economic benefit (electricity savings and fewer breakdowns). In the following, we explore the differences between old and modern desalination plants, the technical and operational advantages<\/strong> of the upgrade, a case study of savings achieved and the financing options for undertaking the upgrade, a case study of savings achieved and the financing options for undertaking the upgrade. desalination plant renovation Canary Islands<\/strong> in a cost-effective way.<\/p>

Old vs. modern desalination plant: consumption, efficiency and maintenance<\/h2>

The difference between a desalination plant built 20-30 years ago and a state-of-the-art plant is remarkable. In terms of specific energy consumption<\/strong>, In terms of efficiency, recovery efficiency and maintenance needs, the improvements have been radical. The following comparison summarises the main aspects:<\/p>

Aspect<\/strong><\/th>Desalination plant Antigua<\/strong><\/th>Modern Desalination Plant<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Energy consumption<\/strong><\/td>3-5 kWh\/m\u00b3 with traditional recovery; up to ~8 kWh\/m\u00b3 without effective recovery (very old plants)<\/td>\u22482 kWh\/m\u00b3 using state-of-the-art isobaric energy recovery (less than half of historical consumption)<\/td><\/tr>
Recovery efficiency<\/strong><\/td>~85% of energy recovered with Pelton turbines (max. ~90% with older turbo-chargers)<\/td>95-98% of the energy recovered with modern isobaric devices (e.g., pressure exchangers type Danfoss iSave<\/strong>)<\/td><\/tr>
High pressure pump<\/strong><\/td>Conventional centrifugal pump (moderate efficiency, especially in small plants)<\/td>High-efficiency axial piston pump (+20% efficiency in small plants), integrated with recuperator (compact iSave designs)<\/td><\/tr>
Maintenance requirements<\/strong><\/td>High: bulky equipment with parts subject to wear and tear, frequent adjustments (belts, alignments) and downtime due to recurrent breakdowns.<\/td>Low: compact, modular design with fewer critical components (no belts, less vibration), extending service intervals<\/td><\/tr>
Control and automation<\/strong><\/td>Manual or semi-automatic operation, with little instrumentation and no detailed remote monitoring.<\/td>Automated and remote-controlled system: sensors, SCADA and real-time adjustments optimise the process, facilitating remote monitoring and preventive detection of incidents.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>

(Table 1: Comparison between a classic and a modernised desalination plant in terms of energy consumption, efficiency and maintenance).<\/em><\/p>

As we can see in the comparison, a modernised desalination plant<\/strong> achieves much lower energy consumption thanks to more efficient equipment and advanced energy recovery. In addition, today's systems allow full automation and require fewer maintenance outages, improving continuity of service.<\/p>

Technical and operational advantages of renovation<\/h2>

Renovating an old desalination plant with current technology brings numerous technical and operational benefits. The main advantages are highlighted below:<\/p>