Experience with desalination plants for irrigation in Morocco: Example of Dakhla Public-Private Partnership project

Abstract

This paper examines Morocco's innovative approach to seawater desalination through the integration of renewable energy and strategic public support, as demonstrated by the Dakhla desalination project. By combining a wind energy facility with a reverse osmosis desalination system, the project leverages surplus wind power and diversified revenue streams— including water sales and electricity income—to achieve significant cost reductions. Financial analyses across multiple scenarios reveal that the configuration incorporating both public subsidies and wind integration delivers the lowest levelized cost of water (LCOW), with alternative setups resulting in markedly higher costs. These findings underscore the critical role of phased public funding and renewable energy in optimizing economic performance while minimizing environmental impact. The study presents a scalable model for sustainable water production that addresses both the growing water demand in arid regions and the broader transition toward a cleaner, more resilient energy economy.