UAE’s ADQ backs solar-powered desalination plant

Silal, part of Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company ADQ, has partnered with Netherlands-headquartered solar thermal desalination company, Desolenator, to launch a pilot project using solar-powered desalination technology to produce pure water for irrigation.

The project aims to contribute to the decarbonisation of food production in desert climates by significantly lowering the carbon footprint of the desalination process, the company said in a statement published by Abu Dhabi Media Office.

The project is supported by an AED100 million ($27.23 million) research and development fund launched in 2022 by ADQ.

The fund forms part of Growth Lab, a community of innovators across ADQ’s portfolio focused on research and development into increasing sustainability within the UAE economy.

In December 2022, Silal partnered with retailer GMG to scale up the amount of locally grown food sold in UAE supermarkets.

Under the deal, signed at Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition, up to 1,100 UAE farms contracted to Silal will be supported to sell their fresh produce in GMG’s supermarkets.

Phase 1 involves over 30 product categories, which will be available at GMG’s Géant stores.