The global water desalination market is expected to reach USD 38.10 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2024 to 2033. Water desalination market growth would be driven by the growing world population, depletion of freshwater resources, rapid urbanization & industrialization of developing economies. The improvement in desalination equipment credited to technological advancements will also contribute to the market's growth. The desalination process eliminates extra salts and minerals from various water sources such as seawater, brackish water, groundwater and surface water to make it capable of being used or consumed. To effectively move the water through membrane processes despite natural pressure barriers, driving factors like applied/vapor pressure, electric potential and concentration are required in separation techniques involving membranes. Therefore, this technology employs a significant amount of energy for its operation; hence, ongoing research aims to increase efficiency while decreasing energy expenditure. An outcome that comes with the desalination procedure is brine production.

Market Overview:

Water is an integral part of the living world. When hydrogen and oxygen combine in a 2:1 ratio, they form dihydrogen monoxide or water. Water exists in all states of matter, namely, solid, liquid, and gas. Water is transparent, tasteless, colorless, and an odorless substance. The earth is 71% water, and this 71% is called the hydrosphere. Water is the main constituent of the hydrosphere. However, only 3% of this water is freshwater, and the other 97% is in seas. The high concentration of salts in seawater makes it unfit for human consumption. Out of the 3% freshwater, 2.5% is in the form of ice present in the polar regions, which is not accessible, leaving only 0.5% accessible water for human consumption. The amount of water present on the earth which is fit for human consumption is not sufficient to meet the present demands or the future demand of the growing population. In addition to the scarcity of water, anthropogenic activities have led to overexploitation, contamination & wastage of these resources. The government and various stakeholders worldwide are looking at conservation measures to preserve water. One such measure is the desalination of water. Desalination is a purification process; it takes away the salts, minerals, and contaminants from seawater, brackish water, and contaminated water from rivers. The desalination process makes the water potable. The use of seawater & brackish water in the desalination process reduces the burden on freshwater sources such as lakes & rivers, allowing them to replenish. The increasing instances of water scarcity and droughts worldwide have made water desalination a popular choice to meet the rising water demands of the growing population. Water desalination enables the conservation of water resources for future generations, making it an important sustainable endeavor.

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Market Dynamics:

Drivers

• The growing world population

The growing world population, rapid urbanization & industrialization has increased the demand for potable water. Water finds its applications in households, commercial sectors, manufacturing & construction. The existing freshwater supply on earth cannot meet the growing water demand. These resources are already over-exploited, which has led to its depletion and a scarcity of water across the globe. The need to have alternative sources of potable water is imperative. Water desalination is one such method. It can use the abundant seawater & brackish to meet the rising demand for potable water by the growing population.

Restraints:

• Fouling & scaling

Fouling is the deposition of unwanted materials on surfaces during intense heating or cooling processes. Scaling is a type of fouling that happens in the water desalination process. The salts and minerals present in seawater & brackish water are deposited on the membranes used in the water desalination equipment. Scaling reduces the lifespan of the membranes. The frequent replacement adds to the operating costs. The use of disinfectants, anti-scaling, or pretreatments can prevent scaling to a certain extent. However, using these preventive measures is a costly affair and not affordable to many institutions present in the underdeveloped market.

Opportunities:

• Emerging new & advanced hybrid desalination technologies

Hybrid distillation is the combination of thermal distillation & membrane separation processes. The hybrid technologies have lower installation & post-treatment costs. Also, these are highly efficient and provide a better gain to output ratio. Hybrid technologies are flexible and allow greater integration with various operating systems. These advancements cut production costs and make water desalination affordable to small companies, leading to market expansion.

Challenges:

• Environmental concerns

The use of seawater & brackish water in the water desalination results in a heavy brine output. Brine is water with a very high concentration of salt. This brine is released into the environment, ocean, or inland. Brine is harmful to the marine ecosystem; it negatively impacts the inland flora and fauna & damages the soil by increasing its salinity. These effects are very detrimental to biodiversity both in the short term and long term.

Segmentation Analysis:

The global water desalination market has been segmented based on application, source, technology, and regions.

• The application segment is divided into municipal, industrial & others. The municipal segment dominated the market, with a market share of around 57% in 2023. The rapid urbanization & development of megacities has led to an increase in the urban population. The prospect of better living has increased rural to urban migration and increased the population burden on urban agglomerations. The depletion of freshwater resources & water pollution have led to water scarcity. The most inexpensive and efficient solution to this problem is the application of water desalination by municipals. The water shortage and the growing urban population will drive the demand for water desalination in municipals.
• The source segment is divided into seawater, brackish water, river water & others. Over the forecast period, the seawater segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 9.1%. The decline in freshwater resources and rising demand for potable water have created a supply deficit. Seawater as a source is present in abundance on earth, making it the most reliable source during the forecast period. The advancement in technologies to increase the gain to output ratio of potable water from seawater will drive the demand for this segment.
• The technology segment is divided into reverse osmosis (RO), multi-stage flash (MSF) distillation, multi effect (ME) distillation & others. In 2023, the reverse osmosis segment dominated the market, accounting for around 46% of global revenue. The cost-effective and easy application nature of reverse osmosis is responsible for the rising market share. Reverse osmosis keeps the use of chemicals to a minimum, an added benefit driving the segment's growth.

Regional segmentation analysis:

The regions analyzed for the market include North America, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The Middle East and Africa emerged as the largest market for the global water desalination market, with a 33.8% share of the market revenue in 2023.

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• The Middle East and Africa region currently dominates the water desalination market due to the growing population of the region owing to the refugee crisis in the region, increasing government expenditure on reconstruction, and logistical infrastructure. The construction sector uses water in massive amounts, which will drive the water desalination market in the region. The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow during the forecast period following the rising water scarcity coupled with increasing water demand due to rapid urbanization.

Competitive Analysis:

The key players are now concentrating on implementing strategies such as adopting new technology, product innovations, mergers & acquisitions, joint venture, alliances, and partnerships to improve their market position in the global water desalination industry.

Dupont produces SWRO membranes that are versatile and have ease of application. Membranes are products that have high permeability of water and impermeability of dissolved salts & particulate matter. They are very effective in water desalination. IDE Water Technologies select these membranes to install them in their Sorek B desalination plant in Israel.

List of Key Market Players:

• SUEZ
• Veolia
• Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction
• ACCIONA
• IDE Water Technologies
• Genesis Water Technologies
• Biwater Holdings Limited
• Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
• Aquatech International LLC
• Aqua FilSep Inc.

Key Target Audience

• Manufacturing Units
• Market Players
• Investors
• Government Authorities
• Consulting And Research Firm
• Venture capitalists
• Third-party knowledge providers
• Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Report Description:

• Global water desalination market, Industry Analysis, Trends, Analysis and Forecast, 2024 to 2033 is a forthcoming/imminent research report which is to be published by The Brainy Insights.
• 2023 is considered as the base year of the report. 2020, 2021 and 2022 are the historic years, and 2024 to 2033 are the forecast years. The global water desalination market is based on revenue (USD Billion). The report incorporates the market study based on revenue. The study covers the market share revenue/market share/volume for each segment, region, and country catering to the global water desalination market. The regions analyzed for the market are Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, South America, and Middle East & Africa. Furthermore, the regions are further analyzed at the country level.
• The report encompasses the relative data & information, which have been validated by the leading industry professionals and experts across the globe. The research report also delivers an outline of the attractiveness of water desalination based on application, source, technology, and regions which are deduced and formulated based on their growth rate (CAGR), market size, and attractiveness by analyzing the present and prospects to fathom market growth and development in future.
• The report illustrates the detailed (both quantitative and qualitative) analysis of historical data, revenues, key developments, along with the crucial strategies adopted by key organizations catering to the global water desalination market. This offers vital and in-depth insights to depict the overall market scenario.
• The report offers the detailed study for the company profiles of key organizations operating in the global water desalination market and a comparative assessment based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, business strategies, segment market share, product development & innovations, recent developments, joint venture, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, SWOT analysis, and key financial information. This helps in evaluating the overall competition present in the market scenario.
• The report provides an elaborative assessment of the porter's five forces analysis coupled with SWOT analysis to provide business related data and information. Porter's five forces model is analyzed to understand the overall competitive scenario that is prevailing in the market. Additionally, the SWOT analysis identifies both the positive and negative attributes of the market development which influences the company's growth and development to sustain and survive in the long run.
• Along with that, the report also focuses on the market related driving factors, growth limitations (restraints), potential industry opportunities, significant trends and development which act as a key potential for the investors.
• Potential growth prospects along with the penetration rate analysis of the product (market related, i.e., global water desalination market) is covered to comprehend the adoption rate and evaluate the market size.