Ebb, a pioneering water technology company, has partnered with the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), the government entity regulating the Kingdom’s water sector, to decarbonize desalination at an unprecedented scale. With Saudi Arabia accounting for 22% of global desalination capacity, the partnership targets megaton-level CO₂ removal within the next decade while improving freshwater recovery and overall plant efficiency.
By integrating Ebb’s electrochemical system with Saudi Arabia’s desalination facilities, the partnership aims to transform desalination brine into a valuable resource that supports sustainable growth, water security and decarbonization. The initial deployment will take place at SWA’s state-of-the-art research and development facility in Jubail at The Water Technologies Innovation Institute and Research Advancements (WTIIRA), one of the world’s foremost centers for next-generation desalination technology
With Saudi Arabia accounting for 22% of global desalination capacity, this milestone project will establish the foundation for scaling across SWA’s national desalination network, directly advancing Vision 2030’s goals of environmental sustainability, economic diversification, and technological innovation.
Ebb enters this partnership with extensive validation from multiple U.S. pilots, including multi-year demonstrations with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Project Macoma in Washington state.
Desalination is essential to the Kingdom’s water security and economic development and continues to expand rapidly to meet rising demand—with capacity projected to increase 10% from 16 million to 17.8 million cubic meters per day by 2030. Historically, the brine produced by desalination has had no value—treated simply as a waste byproduct of freshwater production. Now, through its partnership with Ebb, the Saudi Water Authority is transforming this brine into a valuable resource, using innovative electrochemical technology that integrates seamlessly with existing desalination systems.
Ebb’s electrochemical system converts desalination brine into three valuable products: caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, and a low-salinity brine that can be recycled back into the desalination process to extract additional freshwater. Both the caustic soda and acid can be reused within desalination plants or supplied to nearby industries—including aluminum refining, energy operations, and other industrial processes critical to the Kingdom’s economy. The caustic soda can also be used to enhance seawater alkalinity, kickstarting a natural process that permanently removes CO₂ from the atmosphere. This innovation supports the Kingdom’s broader goal of developing a circular, self-sustaining industrial ecosystem, turning what was previously considered waste into a source of national value.
By integrating Ebb’s technology with its desalination infrastructure, the Saudi Water Authority is unlocking new environmental value for the Kingdom. SWA’s desalination plants have the potential to remove 85 megatons of CO₂ each year, directly contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Net Zero objectives, while increasing plant efficiency. Beyond carbon removal, the process also helps restore ocean chemistry by lowering acidity levels caused by excess atmospheric carbon—benefiting marine ecosystems in the Arabian Gulf. These outcomes build on scientific studies conducted in the United States, which demonstrated measurable improvements in ocean chemistry when Ebb’s process is deployed.
“This partnership represents a transformative moment for both desalination and carbon removal. By integrating Ebb’s technology with SWA’s desalination infrastructure, we’re proving that addressing water scarcity and climate change aren’t competing priorities—they’re complementary solutions. SWA’s forward-thinking approach demonstrates how the desalination industry can unlock immense value and be a critical part of addressing some of the world’s most complex challenges profitably.” Ben Tarbell, Ebb’s CEO and Co-founder.
“This groundbreaking partnership demonstrates how Saudi Arabia is leveraging its position as the world’s largest desalinated water producer to create entirely new industries. The technology can be manufactured locally, creating jobs and reducing our reliance on imported chemicals, while our deployment establishes a model for the broader GCC region and water-scarce nations worldwide. We are not simply adopting technology – we are building a domestic carbon removal industry that supports government priorities’ economic diversification and positions the Kingdom as an exporter of climate solutions.” Tariq Alghaffari, SWA Vice President for Research & Promising Technologies.
