Barcelona leans on Europe’s largest desalination plant for domestic use named the Llobregat, but that is not enough. Catalonia is facing the worst drought on record, so floating desalination plants are part of the solution.
David Mascort, Minister of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, said that floating desalinator is a “more economical and environmentally sustainable solution.”
13 floating desalinators
The Catalan government will install a floating desalination plant in the port of Barcelona. As explained, it will come into operation if Catalonia’s Ter-Llobregat catchment system enters the Emergency II phase of the drought. That is not expected before October. Phase II of the Emergency status is when reserves go below 10.95% for the catchment. In that case, water consumption would be restricted to 180 liters per inhabitant per day. That is controlled at the municipal level.
As explained floating desalinators are equipped with the all necessary technology. In total, it is planned to install 13 mobile desaliners. 12 small ones will be installed in the northern Costa Brava region and, a large in the city of Barcelona.
The floating desalination plant will produce about 6% of the consumption of the Barcelona metropolitan area. In numbers that is about 14 hm3 of water per year. The produced water will be stored in the reservoir before being released into the distribution network. “Transporting water by ship from outside Catalonia is no longer an option as now have better alternatives,” Patricia Plaja said.
For the Costa Brava region, the 12 mobile desalination plants will cost around 10 million euros. It can satisfy around 35% of the water demand of the supply area of the northern Costa Brava.
5 year long benefits
As the Mascort explained the purchase of the desalination plant has been calculated based on a usage lifetime of five years. The period of five years aligns well with the period needed for other key infrastructure works related to water resources.
The desalination plant has no mooring costs and does not impact maritime traffic. As said during the conference the floating desalinator produces about 40,000 m3/day. Compared to the average 25,000 m3/day that can be transported with ships that means up to 50% more water. When it comes to prices the cost of producing water through a floating desalination plant is much cheaper. For example, the cost will be around €6/m?, while with ships it rises to €10/m?.
More than 1,000 days of drought
Earlier this year after more than 1,000 days of drought, the Catalan government announced a state of emergency. The water restrictions affect something six million people in Barcelona and 200 towns. Meaning a lot more than half of the region’s population. Barcelona’s residents currently use 160 liters of water per resident per day.
Two months ago Catalan president, Pere Aragones, said that Catalan budget 2024 foresees over €1bn in spending to face extreme drought. Last year the Spanish government approved a €2.2bn plan to help farmers and consumers cope with an enduring drought.
The new Copernicus report confirms that Europe suffered a near-record hot year in 2023 with severe wildfires and heatwaves. Temperatures in Europe were above average for 11 months of the year. While heat-related deaths are estimated to have increased in 94% of the European regions monitored.
