The International Desalination Association (IDA) is a ‘knowledge partner’ for the International Water Summit for the third consecutive year.

The summit, which will focus on new thinking on integrated water resource management and act as a knowledge hub for innovators and entrepreneurs, will run from January 19 to 22 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Patricia A Burke, IDA secretary general, said: “IDA has supported IWS as a knowledge partner since the event’s inception. Sustainability is a key topic for the world’s water supply, and desalination is unique in its ability to provide our thirsty world with the only new and renewable source of fresh water.

“Through advanced water reuse treatment, we are able to extend the lifecycle of this precious resource. Our industry’s great strides in reducing energy requirements add an important dimension to desalination and water reuse as a holistically sustainable water solution.”

Hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, IWS is a global platform for  promoting water sustainability in arid regions.

The conference and exhibition will bring together world leaders, field experts, leading members of academia, and business innovators to discuss the latest water technologies and the immense commercial potential of their application to the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

Entitled ‘Promoting Water Sustainability in Arid Regions,’ the IWS conference will foster innovation, best practice and collaboration to offer tangible solutions to accelerate the development of new sustainable water strategies and technologies.

IWS is a key element of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which will also include the eighth World Future Energy Summit, the second edition of EcoWaste, and the seventh Zayed Future Energy Prize Award Ceremony in addition to the Fifth General Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Naji El Haddad, event director of IWS, said: “The IDA is the world’s  leading organisation focused on desalination and advanced water reuse, and is well known for being a global resource for information, professional development and making business-building connections within the worldwide desalination and reuse industry.

“Working with IDA ensures that the program’s panels on the important topic of desalination incorporate the latest trends and industry’s best thinking.”

IDA will present a stream of sessions focused on Energy Efficient and Clean Technology Desalination and will include a case study ‘Desalination: Next Generation Renewable Energy Powered Desalination Pilot Project’; keynote presentation: ‘Opportunity to Enhance Energy Efficiency in the Saudi Desalination Sector’; a panel discussion on Desalination Energy and Environment Nexus; and a panel discussion on Sustainable Desalination and Advanced Water Reuse; Development and Trends Leading to Energy and Cost Reduction

It will also feature a high-level panel discussion on ‘Taking a Unified Strategic Approach to Address the Challenges of the Water Energy Nexus,’ which will address setting common objectives and targets for improvement; creating an effective method for distribution of water and energy resources; solving the interlinked challenges of urban water and energy to enable the growth of cities and businesses; and sharing urban solutions to improve utility performance. - TradeArabia News Service