Saudi Arabia will become the first country outside the United States to manufacture energy recovery devices (ERDs), a strategic component in desalination, after the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) announced the localisation of their production. The technology has until now been made only in the US market, and production in the Kingdom is set to begin in the first quarter of 2027.

Energy Recovery, Inc. will build the facility with an annual capacity of 2,000 units, more than the Kingdom's estimated yearly demand of about 1,200, giving it self-sufficiency. Around 40% of output will be exported to the GCC, Africa and Asia.

ERDs make desalination plants more efficient and cut energy use and running costs. Making them locally will reduce imports, speed up supply to plants and strengthen supply chains, helping keep water production and delivery uninterrupted.

The market is worth more than SAR547 million, including about SAR247 million in Saudi Arabia and around SAR300 million in the wider Middle East and North Africa. The project is expected to add about SAR137 million to GDP by 2033, create more than 50 direct jobs and reach more than 80% local content across the value chain, while transferring know-how in advanced desalination manufacturing.

The SWA led the effort with the Ministry of Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority to speed up the requirements for the plant. The authority says the move from importing to manufacturing and exporting will make the Kingdom a regional hub for ERDs and boost the competitiveness of its water technology industry.