Energy Recovery wins PX Q650 deal for major Saudi desalination plant

what happened

Zawya reports that California-based Energy Recovery has won a contract to provide PX Q650 equipment for a major seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination facility in Saudi Arabia. Once completed, the plant is expected to be one of the 10 largest desalination sites worldwide. Energy Recovery designs and manufactures efficiency technologies for desalination, wastewater treatment and commercial refrigeration.

The agreement covers the company’s newest and highest-capacity PX Pressure Exchanger technology. Its PX Q650 units capture energy from the high-pressure reject flow produced during reverse osmosis and return it to the feedwater circuit, reducing the power needed to turn seawater into potable water. Launched in March 2026, the device has one moving component and an estimated operating life of approximately 30 years.

Saudi Arabia is adding desalination capacity to reinforce national water security. More than 70% of the Kingdom’s potable water comes from desalination, making lower-energy production part of its long-term water strategy and Vision 2030 objectives. Energy Recovery says its PX technology has served the seawater desalination sector for more than three decades, cutting energy use by up to 60% and enabling treatment of about 48.5 million cubic metres of water per day worldwide. The company estimates annual customer energy savings at approximately $8 billion.

why it matters

The contract connects Saudi Arabia’s water-capacity expansion with demand for lower-energy desalination equipment and gives Energy Recovery another project linked to large-scale infrastructure investment.

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