Desalination Investment Necessary by 2016

Desalination will become a key technology to meet the world’s water demand, and will generate a cumulative capital investment of $87.8bn worldwide from 2010 to 2016, according to Pike Research.

The research report, Desalination Technology Markets, says that costs are falling steadily for several key technologies, which will make seawater-to-freshwater conversion more affordable.

The report claims that the desalination market growth is driven by dwindling water resources, population growth, urbanisation and lower desalination costs.

The research forecasts a slowdown in the market over the next two years, largely due to lingering effects of the global financial crisis, and expects desalination investment to double within six years.