Water Desalination Equipment Market Report, By Source (Sea water, Brackish water, River water, Others), By Technology (Reverse Osmosis (RO), Multi-stage Flash (MSF) distillation, Multi-effect Distillation (MED), Others), By Application (Municipal, Industrial, Others) and Regions 2024-2032

Market Overview:

"The global Water Desalination Equipment market was valued at US$ 13.95 Billion in 2023, and is expected to register a CAGR of 7.6% over the forecast period and reach US$ 26.9 Bn in 2032."

Water desalination equipment holds an integral role in addressing the increasing global demand for fresh water by eradicating salt and impurities from seawater or brackish water sources. Since freshwater resources become more and more scarce attributing to factors such as population growth and climate change, the demand for desalination solutions continues to surge. These systems use advanced technologies such as distillation, reverse osmosis, and electrodialysis to generate clean, potable water for different applications involving municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. The global market for water desalination equipment is experiencing robust growth, fuelled by growing water scarcity, swift urbanization, and industrial expansion in regions undergoing water stress. In addition, breakthroughs in desalination technology, along with government initiatives to support water sustainability, are estimated to further accelerate market growth in the forthcoming years.

In the global water desalination equipment market, technological advances and emerging trends are redefining the panorama of water purification. Innovations such as enhanced membrane materials, energy-efficient desalination processes, and integrated hybrid systems are improving the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of desalination plants. Additionally, there is a soaring trend towards decentralized and modular desalination solutions, allowing scalable and cost-effective water treatment solutions for different applications. Alongside, digitalization and automation technologies are transforming desalination operations, promoting remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and optimization of plant performance. These advancements promise to address the surging demand for fresh water while mitigating environmental impact and operational costs.

Water Desalination Equipment Market Trends and Drivers

One major driver that is primarily fuelling the global water desalination equipment market growth is the exponential rise in the global population coupled with swift urbanization, resulting in increased demand for fresh water resources. As urban centres expand, the burden on existing freshwater sources escalates, requiring alternative solutions like desalination to meet the growing demand for potable water. In addition, increasing water scarcity owing to factors such as droughts, climate change, and reduction of groundwater reserves intensifies the urgency for desalination technologies.

What is more, the increasing industrialization and agricultural activities across the world contribute to water pollution and depletion, further aggravating water scarcity issues. Desalination equipment stands for crucial solution to minimize these challenges by offering a sustainable source of clean water for different industries and agricultural applications.

Moreover, innovations in desalination technologies, such as membrane improvements, energy-efficient processes, and advanced hybrid systems, accelerate market growth by improving the efficiency and affordability of desalination plants. These technological innovations allow cost-effective and environmentally sustainable water treatment solutions, drawing investments and accelerating market expansion.

Furthermore, supportive government policies, regulations, and initiatives aimed at facilitating water conservation and sustainability also encourage market growth. Governments across the globe are increasingly investing in desalination projects and infrastructure to ensure water security and resilience against water-associated crises.

Overall, the confluence of these drivers and trends highlights the essential role of water desalination equipment in addressing the increasing global water crisis and meeting the surging demand for fresh water resources in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Water Desalination Equipment Market Restraining Factors

The global water desalination equipment market witnesses several restraints, comprising risks associated with desalination plant construction. The complicated and capital-intensive nature of building desalination facilities often results in cost overruns, project delays, and technical challenges, hindering market growth. In addition, desalination plants need substantial energy consumption, paving its way to high operational costs and environmental concerns. The disposal of brine and other by-products from desalination processes presents ecological risks, needing stringent environmental regulations and mitigation measures.

Additionally, the availability of alternative water sources and competing technologies, such as water recycling and groundwater extraction, may impede the market demand for desalination equipment. Geopolitical tensions, regulatory barriers, and public opposition to desalination projects further restrain market growth, underscoring the need for concerted efforts to address technical, financial, and regulatory challenges in the water desalination equipment market.

Water Desalination Equipment Market Opportunities

Dropping groundwater levels and elevating freshwater demand, fuelled by swift industrialization, urbanization, and population growth, create a urgent need for alternative water sources. Desalination equipment provides a sustainable solution to amplify freshwater supplies and meet the growing demand for residential, industrial, and agricultural purposes. In addition, the growing adoption of hybrid desalination devices, consolidating multiple technologies such as membrane distillation, reverse osmosis, and solar desalination, presents promising opportunities for market expansion.

These hybrid systems provide improved efficiency, diminished energy consumption, and enhanced reliability in comparison to conventional desalination techniques, catering to diverse applications and geographical conditions. In addition, government initiatives, technological innovations, and investments in research and development are propelling innovation in desalination technology, unlocking new opportunities for market players to develop advanced solutions and capture a bigger share of the global water desalination equipment market.  

Water Desalination Equipment Market Segmentation

By Source

• Sea water
• Brackish water
• River water
• Others

Sea water holds the largest share in the global water desalination equipment market due to its abundance as a readily available source and the increasing demand for potable water in coastal regions, where seawater desalination is a viable solution to address water scarcity challenges.

By Technology

• Reverse Osmosis (RO)
• Multi-stage Flash (MSF) distillation
• Multi-effect Distillation (MED)
• Others

Reverse Osmosis (RO) dominates the global water desalination equipment market due to its widespread adoption driven by high efficiency, lower energy consumption, and versatility in treating various water sources, including seawater and brackish water, making it the preferred choice for desalination projects worldwide.

By Application

• Municipal
• Industrial
• Others

The municipal segment accounts for the largest share in the global water desalination equipment market due to increasing urbanization, population growth, and freshwater scarcity in urban areas. Municipalities worldwide deploy desalination equipment to meet the rising demand for clean drinking water among urban populations.

By Region

North America

• United States
• Canada

Europe

• Germany
• United Kingdom
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Russia
• Poland
• Benelux
• Nordic
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• South Korea
• ASEAN
• Australia & New Zealand
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Mexico
• Argentina

Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates
• Israel
• Rest of MEA

The global water desalination equipment market is divided into five key regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Middle East & Africa holds the largest share in the global water desalination equipment market attributing to its arid climate and limited freshwater resources. Countries in this region, particularly those in the Arabian Peninsula, heavily rely on desalination to meet their water needs. In addition, substantial investments in desalination infrastructure and projects by governments further drive market dominance in the Middle East & Africa region.

Leading Water Desalination Equipment Manufacturers & Competitive Landscape:

In the competitive landscape of the global water desalination equipment market, key players employ diverse strategies to differentiate themselves and gain a competitive edge. These strategies include technological innovation, product development, strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and geographic expansion. Companies focus on developing advanced desalination solutions, enhancing energy efficiency, and expanding their global presence to cater to the increasing demand for clean water. Additionally, partnerships with governments, research institutions, and industry stakeholders facilitate access to new markets and drive innovation, while mergers and acquisitions enable companies to consolidate their market position and offer comprehensive solutions to customers.

These companies include:

• Acciona S.A.
• Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction
• Veolia
• SUEZ
• IDE Technologies
• Xylem
• Aquatech International LLC
• Biwater Holdings Limited
• Genesis Water Technologies
• Guangzhou KangYang Seawater Desalination Equipment Co., Ltd. (KYSEARO)

Recent Development:

• April 2022, Veolia Water Technologies, a subsidiary of the Veolia group and leading specialist in water treatment, announced the Asia Pacific launch of the Barrel™, an integrated plug-and-play reverse osmosis (RO) technology. With increasing demand for fresh water and rising concerns over scarcity in the region, the Barrel meets the challenges and expectations of the desalination market while producing fresh water complying with all water quality standards. The Barrel was selected as a key technology for the first experiment in Europe in wastewater treatment for the supply of drinking water through the Jourdain programme, in France’s Vendee region. The technology has also been in use at the Oman Sur desalination plant since 2019.

Water Desalination Equipment Market Research Scope