Solar Water Desalination Plant Market Size & Share 2026 - 2035

Solar Water Desalination Plant Market Size

The solar water desalination plant market was valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2025. The market is expected to grow from USD 3 billion in 2026 to USD 7 billion in 2035, at a CAGR of 10%, according to latest report published by Global Market Insights Inc.

The increase in global freshwater shortage and the need for fresh water are the key drivers of the exponential growth of solar water desalination plants over the past several years, primarily since they produce fresh water through distillation, which uses heat to change saltwater into fresh water, and is used for agricultural and industrial applications.
 

As the world continues to experience worsening water shortages, desalination will continue to be one of the solutions to address this global issue, the growing emphasis on water conservation and sustainable practices is driving a considerable amount of new development, which is being led by the growth in the adoption of solar desalination systems by consumers.
 

While there has been considerable growth in the use of solar desalination systems as a result of technological advancements and enhancements such as improved membranes, modular designs, and reduced component use, the upfront costs remain the most significant barriers to adoption, as they are significantly higher than the costs associated with conventional filtration methods.
 

However, the actual costs of solar desalination plants can be anywhere from USD 900 to USD 4,800 per cubic meter, depending on the technology used, the size of the plant, and regional variables. Al Khafji Solar Desalination Plant (Saudi Arabia) and Masdar Renewable Energy Desalination Programme (UAE) are good examples of projects that illustrate how solar desalination can have a sustainable, long-term solution for providing fresh drinking water.
 

Even though the initial cost remains challenging, innovation and advances in technology, coupled with continued support from both federal and provincial governments, should allow this sector to grow and become a viable source for meeting the growing demand worldwide for freshwater.
 

Solar Water Desalination Plant Market Trends

Changing innovation and technology transformation are important for the growth of the solar water desalination plant market.
 

• The solar water treatment market for desalination is continuing to develop significantly due to advances made in membrane technology such as RO and NF. With these advancements, the solar treatment process will become increasingly efficient when treating water as well as more energy-efficient than ever before. The use of membranes to purify seawater environmentally offer better performance in the recovery of clean water from seawater and higher overall energy-efficiency than traditional thermal desalination processes do.
   
• The use of NF membranes within the industry is also growing. NF membranes create a low-energy barrier that prevents salty waters from contaminating the treated water. This provides an alternative solution for RO membrane applications at a much lower operational cost for solar desalination plants. For example, multiple large solar desalination plants have utilized NF membranes in their production processes throughout the entire year of 2025, resulting in significant cost savings and enhanced operational performance.
   
• Governments worldwide are investing more in solar desalination systems because of the need to provide sustainable water management and to combat water scarcity on the global scale. In 2025, a North African government-backed project reported that by utilizing the benefits of advanced membrane technologies within their solar desalination facilities, they were able to cut the overall electrical consumption of their facilities by 25%.
   
• Additionally, the private sector is accelerating innovation in the field. For example, recently a Middle Eastern solar desalination plant was able to achieve a 30% increase in the water recovery rate of the plant using new NF membranes, which will serve as a benchmark of efficiency going forward.
   
• With increasing demand for clean water and a focus on sustainability around the world, the solar water desalination plant market will experience strong growth during the forecast period, driven by technological advancements and continuing government policies in support of this industry.
   

Solar Water Desalination Plant Market Analysis

Based on technology type, the solar water desalination plant industry is segmented into solar photovoltaic desalination and solar thermal desalination. The solar thermal desalination segment accounts for revenue of around USD 1.6 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2035.
 

• Solar thermal systems use the sun's heat directly to produce fresh water from saline water using the thermal processes of distillation or evaporating saltwater into steam then condensing the steam back into liquid form. Solar thermal systems produce fresh water with much less energy input than PV solar systems because they operate at higher efficiencies. According to Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, the efficiency of converting energy from the sun into distilled water can be as high as 30% to 50%, based on the type of solar thermal technology used, how it operates, and the operational conditions in which it is used.
   
• Large majority of the global desalination market currently utilizing solar thermal technologies is because they are less expensive and can be expanded into larger scale systems. Most governments throughout the world are supporting the deployment of solar thermal desalination systems through various initiatives.
   
• For example, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has earmarked significant funds to support the development of solar desalination projects as part of the Water Security Grand Challenge, with the goal of developing more energy-efficient desalination systems by 2025. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in India is also supporting the development of solar thermal technologies to help meet the freshwater needs of arid regions.
   
• Examples of successful implementations in solar desalination include the Al Khafji Solar Water Desalination Plant in Saudi Arabia, capable of generating 60,000 cubic meters of fresh water each day, and Sundrop Farms in Australia is either able to grow crops using solar thermal energy or to irrigate them via solar thermal methods.
   
• These examples illustrate how this industry can help solve global issues of water scarcity sustainably. Further investments are made into the industry and as technology advances, solar thermal desalination technology is projected to remain a leader within the marketing forecast period. 
   

Learn more about the key segments shaping this market

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Based on the cooling capacity, the solar water desalination plant market is bifurcated into small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale. The medium scale segments accounted for over 42% of the market share in 2025.
 

• Increase in the number of medium size solar thermal desalination systems is due primarily to the ability these systems must easily adapt to the needs of different water users. Medium scale solar tidal desalination systems are also better able to accommodate variable salinity levels and different water quality types and therefore can be designed to provide solutions to localized water challenges, including small-scale water storage or transport infrastructure. The ease of adapting to local needs provides better access to fresh water on the job site while at the same time enhancing water supply security.
   
• Countries around the world have recently been supporting medium-sized solar powered renewable water projects to solve water scarcity in developing countries. One example of this is the Government of Maldives that recently unveiled a new medium size solar desalination system with a capacity of 5000 cubic meters of freshwater per day for use by several Islands within the country. The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy also allocated money from its National Solar Mission toward promoting solar desalination to help improve access to potable water in arid climates.
   
• The medium scale-more cost-effective & scalable than both large & small-scale; therefore, medium-scale plants have great flexibility because they can be retrofitted to address changing demands for water. Medium-scale plants can generally be implemented more quickly because they require much less space and can produce comparable amounts of freshwater to large-scale plants.
   
• The added benefits to investors & governments are rapidly increasing investments & initiatives related to solar desalination, which will allow the medium-scale segment to continue being the dominant segment during the forecast timeframe, and demonstrate recognition of solar desalination as the long-term sustainable solution to global freshwater shortages.
   

Based on end use, the market is segmented into agricultural, industrial, municipal and commercial. The municipal segment generated a revenue of USD 1.5 billion in 2025.
 

• The municipal segment holds the largest share in the solar water desalination market, as cities face increasing pressure to secure sustainable water sources. The municipal markets use solar energy to convert seawater into drinking water, thereby decreasing dependence on limited supplies of freshwater
   
• Water scarcity is an escalating global crisis, especially in cities, because of the rapid growth of populations, greenhouse gas emissions and unsustainable use of freshwater resources. The October 2023 study from the World Resources Institute shows that 25% of the people on the planet live in areas under water stress; moreover, cities are particularly vulnerable.
   
•  As an example, the Al Khafji Solar Saline Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Plant in Saudi Arabia provides 60,000 square metres of drinking water each day. It is a very successful example of this industry addressing the water needs of urban centres.
   
• Governments support the installation of solar desalination projects to reduce the effects of drought. In 2023, India announced plans to build solar desalination plants along its coastline to provide municipal and industrial water supplies. Similarly, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 Strategy incorporates solar desalination as a means of achieving long-term water security.
   
• Solar water desalination has proven successful and has strong government support. This clean technology provides a long-term, reliable means of supplying irrigation and municipal water to urban areas facing water scarcity.
   

In 2025, the U.S. dominated the solar water desalination plant market growth in North America, accounting for 77.3% of the share in the region.
 

• The U.S. faces escalating water scarcity, with 44% of the country experiencing drought conditions and nearly 10% under severe to extreme drought, driving urgent demand for innovative water treatment solutions such as solar desalination.  Additionally, climate impacts are projected to increase nationwide water demand by up to 140% by 2050, emphasizing the need for renewable-powered water systems that can supply resilient freshwater sustainably.
   
• Strong policy incentives and rising federal and state investments in renewable energy and sustainable water technologies are accelerating the adoption of solar desalination. The U.S. market is further expanding due to significant investments in renewable infrastructure and efforts to reduce carbon-intensive water treatment.
   

Asia Pacific solar water desalination plant market is expected to grow at 11.1% CAGR during the forecast period.
 

• The market is driven by severe water scarcity, with over half of the world’s population living in the Asia Pacific region and facing rapid depletion of freshwater due to urbanization and industrialization. Governments are increasingly supporting desalination through policies and large infrastructure investments to meet coastal and inland water demand.
   

Europe solar water desalination plant market is expected to grow at 9% CAGR during the forecast period.
 

• Europe’s growth is fueled by rising water scarcity and irregular rainfall, prompting countries to adopt renewable-powered desalination technologies. Strong EU sustainability policies, incentives for clean energy, and advanced water-management regulations are accelerating solar desalination adoption.
   

Middle East and Africa solar water desalination plant market is expected to grow at 10.2% CAGR during the forecast period.
 

• The Middle East & Africa region is the world’s most water-stressed, with rapid population growth and severe climate impacts intensifying freshwater shortages. High solar irradiance makes solar desalination particularly viable, reducing dependence on fossil fuels for energy-intensive water production.
   

Solar Water Desalination Plant Market Share

The top companies in the solar water desalination plant industry include ACCIONA, Desolenator, Elemental Water Makers B.V, Aquatech and IDE and collectively hold a share of 15.3% of the market in 2025. These prominent players are proactively involved in strategic endeavors, such as mergers & acquisitions, facility expansions & collaborations, to expand their product portfolios, extend their reach to a broad customer base, and strengthen their market position.
 

• ACCIONA is a global leader in large-scale seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination, delivering sustainable plants that significantly cut energy use and emissions. They design, build, and operate advanced desalination facilities integrated with renewable energy, including solar-powered systems in regions like Saudi Arabia.
   
• Desolenator develops fully solar-powered thermal desalination systems that operate off-grid using photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) technology to harvest heat and electricity simultaneously. Their patented process produces ultrapure water without membranes, chemicals, or fossil fuels, delivering 24/7 circular, net-zero desalination.
   
• Elemental Water Makers provides solar-powered reverse osmosis systems that are up to 70% more energy-efficient and operate with minimal maintenance. Their solutions deliver reliable, chemical-free freshwater production for communities, industries, islands, and resorts in over 30 countries.  
   

Solar Water Desalination Plant Market Companies

Major players operating in the solar water desalination plant industry are:

• Acciona
• Aquastill
• Aquatech
• Boreal Light
• Condorchem Envirotech
• Desolenator
• Elemental Water Makers
• Empereal Energy and Services
• ForeverPure Corporation
• IDE Technologies
• Memsys
• Osmosun
• SolarDew
• Solar Water
• Solar Water Solutions
   

Aquatech offers advanced desalination solutions, including low-energy SWRO, MED, MSF, and hybrid systems, with growing integration of solar energy. Their technology helps reduce energy consumption, improve water recovery, and lower lifecycle costs for large-scale plants.
 

IDE Technologies develops high-efficiency thermal and membrane desalination systems, including largescale SWRO plants used worldwide. Their technology portfolio includes modular, chemical-free RO systems such as IDE PROGREEN, designed to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
 

Solar Water Desalination Plant Industry News

• In August 2025, Bluemont became the exclusive distributor of Elemental Water Makers’ solar desalination systems across Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations. This partnership expands access to chemical-free, off-grid RO systems for climate-vulnerable coastal and island communities.
   
• In June 2025, OSMOSUN and G&G Boatwash strengthened their collaboration to support freshwater access in French ports, deploying solar-powered desalination units for maritime users. The partnership aims to reduce reliance on municipal water networks and improve drought resilience in coastal regions. The expansion aligns with France’s broader water-saving initiatives. 
   
• In April 2025, ACCIONA launched an advanced turbidity prediction system for its desalination plants, using satellite data and AI to forecast water quality hours and days in advance. The system is already deployed at the RAF3 SWRO plant in Qatar, improving plant uptime and protecting sensitive components. This upgrade strengthens resilience to climate-driven seawater variability. 
   
• In December 2024, Desolenator entered a strategic partnership with Jakson Green, including an investment to scale its solar-thermal desalination technology globally. The collaboration focuses on expanding manufacturing, deploying zero-liquid-discharge desalination systems, and entering the Indian market with exclusive sales rights. The agreement was formalized during the IDRA World Congress.
   
• In October 2024, Memsys in collaboration with MIT unveiled a battery-free solar desalination system that adjusts its operation to real-time sunlight, producing up to 5,000 liters/day. The system uses direct drive electrodialysis and is designed for remote regions with brackish groundwater.
   

The solar water desalination plant market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry, with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue (USD Billion) and (Thousand Units) (from 2022 to 2035), for the following segments:

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Market, By Technology Type

• Solar photovoltaic desalination
• Solar thermal desalination

Market, By Cooling Capacity

• Small scale (below 1,000 cubic meters per day)
• Medium scale (between 1,000-10,000 cubic meters per day)
• Large scale (above 10,000 cubic meters per day)

Market, By Solar Integration Model

• Off-grid solar
• Hybrid solar+grid
• Solar-thermal assisted

Market, By End Use

• Agricultural
• Industrial
• Municipal
• Commercial

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • UK
  • Italy
  • Spain
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina 
• MEA
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • South Africa