Can ocean desalination solve the global water crisis?

The answer

Global desalination capacity reached approximately 128 million cubic meters per day in 2024, serving over 300 million people across 177 countries through roughly 22,000 plants. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel are the largest producers. Modern reverse osmosis technology has reduced energy consumption to about 3 kilowatt-hours per cubic meter - a 90% improvement since the 1970s. Israel's Sorek B plant, the world's largest reverse osmosis facility, produces 627,000 cubic meters daily. The major environmental concern is brine discharge - for every liter of freshwater produced, 1.5 liters of concentrated brine containing chemicals and heavy metals is typically returned to the ocean. New technologies including solar-powered desalination and forward osmosis are addressing both energy and waste challenges.