In a global scenario marked by the climate crisis, ecosystem degradation, and growing water insecurity, humanity faces a turning point. More than 3 billion people live under severe water stress, and the northern coastal areas of China, especially the Bohai region, show the consequences of a production model that consumes more water and energy than the planet can replenish. In this context, the 50,000-ton-per-day membrane desalination project by Hebei Cangzhou Guodian Cangdong Power Generation Co., Ltd. represents a bold, technological, and strategic response to an unavoidable global challenge.
Located in the Industrial Park of Huanghua Port City, within the Bohai New Area, this complex combines a reverse osmosis plant with a 63 MW photovoltaic power station capable of generating 89.86 GWh per year, transforming solar energy into clean water. With an investment of RMB 300 million, the facility produces 15.63 million m³ of fresh water per year, equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 250,000 people, ensuring high-quality industrial and urban supply without relying on groundwater sources.
Its strategic objective is to reverse the overexploitation of aquifers and ensure water independence for the industrial area of Huanghua, while aligning with China’s national dual-carbon strategy. The project not only produces water, but also redefines the relationship between energy and water resources: each regenerated liter comes from a renewable source, eliminating 75,000 tons of CO₂ per year and replacing 27,400 tons of standard coal.
The project’s purpose lies in creating a demonstrative model of Water Positive infrastructure, aligned with the principles of Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA 2.0). It fulfills the pillars of additionality, traceability, and intentionality, ensuring that every water benefit is measurable, verifiable, and generates a real impact on the basin. The project is developed and operated by Hebei Cangzhou Guodian Cangdong Power Generation Co., Ltd., in collaboration with local institutions, specialized engineering firms, and environmental authorities.
This model not only ensures clean water for industry, but also inaugurates a new way of producing, supplying, and coexisting in balance with the environment: a regenerative, traceable water economy aligned with international sustainability commitments.
For decades, the Bohai region has faced strong water pressure and aquifer degradation due to its intense industrial and port activity. This project emerges as a technical and strategic solution to a structural problem: the lack of sustainable water sources and the dependence on fossil energy. The plant of Hebei Cangzhou Guodian Cangdong Power Generation Co., Ltd., located at Huanghua Port, implements high-efficiency reverse osmosis technology powered by photovoltaic solar energy. This hybrid system converts 50,000 m³ of seawater each day into high-purity water for industrial and urban use, generating an annual total of 15.63 million m³, which is equivalent to the supply for more than 250,000 inhabitants.
The benefits are tangible and immediate: the complete replacement of fossil fuels avoids 75,000 tons of CO₂ per year and 27,400 tons of standard coal consumption, while ensuring a continuous and stable supply in a high-water-stress area. In the short term, the project provides operational efficiency, climate resilience, and emission reductions; in the medium and long term, it consolidates the water self-sufficiency of Huanghua Port and lays the foundation for its industrial development under ESG criteria.
The success of this solution is possible thanks to the alliance between Hebei Cangzhou Guodian Cangdong Power Generation Co., Ltd., Chinese engineering firms specialized in desalination, and local environmental authorities, which have made it possible to integrate an operational model of green energy applied to water. This hybrid approach not only solves an immediate need, but also builds a new technical standard that can be replicated in other coastal regions of the world. Acting now is crucial: delays in solutions of this magnitude would increase the vulnerability of productive systems in the face of climate change.
Any company committed to water and climate sustainability, from the energy to the industrial or technology sectors, can lead solutions like this, gaining international visibility, competitive differentiation, and ESG compliance. This model demonstrates that investments in regenerative infrastructure not only generate environmental benefits, but also long-lasting economic and reputational returns, opening the way to a new water economy based on innovation, traceability, and resilience.
The project’s implementation was developed through a structured process of interdependent phases that ensure technical efficiency and operational sustainability. In the design stage, bathymetric studies, hydrodynamic modeling, and analyses of the chemical composition of seawater were carried out to determine the most suitable technology. Various alternatives, thermal desalination, nanofiltration, and multi-effect distillation, were evaluated, and membrane reverse osmosis was selected for its lower energy consumption, higher efficiency (45% water recovery), and reduced carbon footprint. The design included pressure simulations, advanced filtration pretreatments, and an integrated energy recovery system, ensuring process stability and the quality of the water obtained.
During the construction phase, the main plant, intake and discharge systems, pressurized conduits, and storage tanks were built. Reverse osmosis trains with high-strength modules, electronically controlled booster pumps, and a 63 MW photovoltaic field connected to an intelligent power distribution network were installed. This configuration makes it possible to power the desalination system with solar energy, reducing dependence on the conventional grid and ensuring continuous operation.
In the operating phase, the plant is managed by a SCADA digital control system and artificial intelligence that supervises pressures, flows, membrane efficiency, and energy consumption. Predictive maintenance relies on IoT sensors and real-time data analysis protocols, which allows resources to be optimized and critical failures to be prevented. Operational risks, such as pump failures, salinity variability, or saline intrusion, are managed with redundant systems, automatic relief valves, and contingency plans certified by environmental authorities.
Regarding environmental risks, the plant has a chemical neutralization system to treat brine before its reuse or discharge, preventing impacts on the salinity of the Bohai Sea. Hydrological variability and climate change are addressed through shared governance with the port authority and a climate resilience plan based on the use of renewable energy, modular equipment, and operational flexibility.
The technical solution combines gray infrastructure (reverse osmosis and photovoltaics) with digital water management tools, forming a hybrid model that adapts to local conditions and reduces energy consumption per cubic meter produced. This technology not only resolves the area’s water deficit, but also establishes a replicable precedent in coastal regions with structural scarcity.
The expected benefits are measurable and multiple: 15.63 million m³ of fresh water regenerated per year, a reduction of 75,000 tCO₂ and 27,400 tons of coal, in addition to the creation of specialized technical jobs. The project improves water security, drives the circular economy through wastewater reuse, and strengthens the reputation of its developers as leaders in Water Positive infrastructure.
In the long term, resilience is ensured through the integration of clean energy sources and digital process management, guaranteeing continuity in the face of extreme events. Its replicability is high: the model can be adapted to other industrial, port, or arid basins, where sustainable desalination and renewable energy are key to water and climate security. Public-private partnerships, cooperation with the CEO Water Mandate, and alignment with VWBA 2.0 principles ensure its expansion, traceability, and global impact on the water economy.
The project’s implementation was conceived under an integrated, phased approach that ensured technical precision and continuous validation at every stage. The process began with a diagnostic and design phase, where hydrological and marine studies were conducted to determine intake and discharge characteristics, along with hydraulic simulations and energy modeling that defined the plant’s optimal configuration. This phase took place over six months and included defining the environmental and operational baseline, documenting flows, marine water quality, and initial reference emissions.
In the civil construction phase, of approximately one year, foundation works, port structures, intake and discharge conduits, and installation of intermediate storage tanks were carried out. In parallel, the 63 MW photovoltaic infrastructure was developed with its corresponding connection systems and transformers. The equipment installation stage included assembly of reverse osmosis trains, high-pressure pumps, automated valves, advanced filtration pretreatment, and an energy recovery system. Each component was tested individually under national efficiency and safety standards.
Subsequently, the energy integration phase made it possible to link the solar field with the desalination plant through a smart grid that guarantees continuous supply and prioritizes the use of clean energy. Technical validation was carried out over three months, under a controlled operating regime that verified energy conversion efficiency, produced water quality (BOD, TSS, salinity), and compliance with the 45% recovery objectives.
In sustainable operation, a management plan was established based on performance indicators (KPIs) such as water production (m³/day), specific energy consumption (kWh/m³), avoided emissions (tCO₂/year), recovery efficiency (%), and water quality (mg/L TDS). These parameters are monitored by IoT sensors and a SCADA system that records data in real time and issues automatic alerts in the event of deviations. Physical traceability is ensured through ultrasonic flow meters and smart valves that record flow from intake to distribution, while digital traceability is guaranteed by a data management platform connected to the VWBA 2.0 system, which reports auditable metrics on regenerated water and energy used.
To prevent critical failures, the project has electrical redundancy, backup lines in the RO trains, and an emergency system for variations in water quality. Maintenance protocols include quarterly membrane inspections, sensor calibration, and annual external audits that validate efficiency and traceability results. Governance is shared among the technical operator, the port authority, and environmental control agencies, which oversee regulatory compliance and distribution of the generated resource.
Continuous improvement is supported by feedback from the monitoring system, which allows pressure, flow, and operating time adjustments based on seawater quality or industrial demand. Annual VWBA reports compare the with-project scenario against the without-project scenario (with vs. without project), certifying additionality and maintenance of benefits. This control scheme ensures the permanence of positive impacts and the possibility of replicating the methodology in future expansions of the desalination system.
The membrane desalination project of Hebei Cangzhou Guodian Cangdong Power Generation Co., Ltd. constitutes a comprehensive intervention that combines technological innovation, energy efficiency, and environmental restoration. Technically, its main intervention is seawater desalination through reverse osmosis powered by photovoltaic energy, a technology that harnesses differential pressure to filter salts and contaminants, generating high-quality fresh water. The system is made up of reverse osmosis trains, energy recovery modules, high-pressure pumps, and a 63 MW solar field, with capacity to produce 50,000 m³ of water per day (15.63 million m³ annually). It complies with international ISO 14001 environmental management standards, national GB 5749-2022 drinking water quality standards, and WHO guidelines on efficiency and microbiological control.
The relevance of this solution lies in its ability to address a structural problem: the overexploitation of aquifers and dependence on fossil energy in a basin with extreme water stress. Before the project, Huanghua Port depended almost exclusively on groundwater and external sources with a high carbon footprint. After implementation, supply comes from water regenerated with clean energy, reducing 75,000 tCO₂ annually and avoiding consumption of 27,400 tons of standard coal. This transformation not only improves the region’s water and energy security, but also establishes a new operational paradigm in which each cubic meter produced adds resilience and environmental value.
In terms of results, the project replenishes 15.63 million m³/year to the local hydrological system, stabilizes marine salinity, and improves critical water quality parameters, reducing dissolved solids and BOD to levels below 0.05%. Additionally, it generates specialized technical employment, drives industrial innovation, and promotes the transition toward a circular economy through the reuse of brines and chemical by-products. The benefits extend beyond the environmental sphere: it strengthens food security by freeing up water resources for other uses and improves public health by ensuring contaminant-free water.
From a strategic perspective, the initiative is a pillar within the company’s Water Positive roadmap and the VWBA 2.0 framework, ensuring additionality (net creation of new water), traceability (SCADA and IoT digital control), and intentionality (alignment with climate and social goals). It provides tangible benefits to ESG criteria: it grants social license to operate, improves corporate reputation, and positions the developer as a benchmark in regulatory compliance and sustainability. In addition, its integration with global frameworks such as the Science Based Targets for Water (SBTi), Net Positive Water Impact (NPWI), and the SDGs (6, 7, 9, 13, and 17) amplifies its reputational and market value.
The model’s replicability is high. Its modular design and self-sufficient operation allow its application in other coastal basins in Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East, where sustainable desalination and renewable energy are essential for water security. Technical conditions, high solar radiation, access to seawater, and public management capacity, and public-private partnerships facilitate its expansion. The project already serves as a reference for future hybrid plants within the national resilient water infrastructure program.
The project’s final impact is profound: it contributes directly to the positive water balance of the Bohai Sea basin, reduces pressure on depleted aquifers, and improves adaptive capacity to climate change. Socially, it generates quality employment, drives technological innovation, and strengthens the autonomy of local communities. As a whole, the project sends a clear message to investors, governments, and society: the transition toward a regenerative water economy is not only possible, but profitable, measurable, and essential for the planet’s future.
