Desalination capital investment will double within six years, according to a report from cleantech market intelligence firm Pike Research, announced on 20 December 2010.
The report, Desalination Technology Markets, says that costs are falling steadily for several key technologies, which will make seawater-to-freshwater conversion more affordable for a variety of applications. Increased construction of desalination plants will generate a cumulative capital investment of US$ 87.8 billion worldwide during the period 2010-2016.
“Desalination market growth is being driven by a combination of dwindling water resources, population growth and urbanization, and lower desalination costs,” says Pike Research president Clint Wheelock. “While we are forecasting a slowdown in the market over the next two years, largely due to the lingering effects of the global financial crisis, the outlook for the longer term remains strong, and we anticipate that desalination capital investment will double within six years.”