Investment in desalination plants set to double

Cumulative investment in desalination plants reached some US$ 21.4 billion in 2015 and should more than double over the following five years according to a report by market analyst, Research and Markets.

The report, Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination, includes a prediction that investment by 2020 should top US$ 48 billion showing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.6%.

The report assesses the market for large industrial or municipal facilities – those with a capacity greeter than 1,000 m³/d. It highlights a growing gap between freshwater resources and demand from all sectors.

The report forecasts annual and cumulative capital investments in desalination plants likely to begin operation during the forecast period of 2015 to 2020.