Chinese desalination plant makes fresh water cheaper than tap water – plus green hydrogen
Facility in Shandong province also produces mineral-rich brine for industrial use, achieving ‘one-in, three-out’ circular economy
This small but world-first installation in the city of Rizhao is powered entirely by seawater and low-grade waste heat from nearby steel and petrochemical plants, official provincial news outlet Dazhong reported on Saturday.
The facility has operated continuously for over three weeks, producing high-purity hydrogen without the need for costly desalination or precious freshwater resources, the report said.
For every 800 tonnes of seawater processed annually, the system delivers 450 cubic metres (118,877 gallons) of ultra-pure fresh water ideal for industrial cooling or residential use.
It also delivers 192,000 standard cubic metres of green hydrogen and 350 tonnes of mineral-rich brine for marine chemical production – achieving a “one-in, three-out” circular economy.
The hydrogen, produced at the energy cost of 4.2 kilowatts of electricity per cubic metre, is enough to power 100 buses for 3,840km (2,386 miles) every year, according to the report.