Designed with a total capacity of 300,000 m3 per day to be delivered in three phases, this is the largest industrial membrane-based seawater desalination project planned in China to date.
The facility employs low-carbon, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible processes, achieving over 15% cost savings compared to conventional dual-membrane technologies. With the full commissioning of the first phase, it will produce 100,000 m³ of desalinated water daily, resulting in annual savings of over 36 million m³ of freshwater. Additionally, the facility features a highly advanced automation system, making it China’s first fully automated desalination plant.
“The completion of the Penglai seawater desalination project represents not only a firm step forward for Wanhua’s journey toward green and low-carbon industrial development, but also a significant milestone in the innovation and application of seawater desalination technology in China,” said Liao Zengtai, chairman of Wanhua Chemical Group. “Through our partnership with Suez, the project has achieved a world-leading standard by employing the advanced technology and the optimal process, thereby establishing a global benchmark for energy efficiency in the seawater desalination industry.”
“The Penglai facility, constructed to the highest industrial standards, is a landmark project between Suez and Wanhua Chemical Group, building on our successful partnership since 2017,” said Pierre Pauliac, interim co-CEO & chief operating officer of Suez Water. “It stands as a powerful example of what is possible when innovation, ambition, and partnership come together, to address the urgent need for fresh water in coastal areas.”
