Australian Water Management Review Vol. 1 2014 | Page 121

AustrAliAn desAlinAtion reseArCh

Over the past decade large scale seawater
desalination has been adopted by
Australian state governments to ensure
100% water security. As a result of this
$12b investment in water infrastructure,
Australia now ranks in the top ten nations
in terms of desalination capacity.

The National Centre of Excellence in Desalination
Australia (NCEDA) was initiated in 2009 through a
funding commitment of $20m over five years from
the Australian Government’s Water for the Future
initiative. Additional funding from the Western
Australian Government, research institutions and
industry has supported the NCEDA’s success and
international recognition. Given Australia’s dry
and highly variable climate, the NCEDA Board has
developed a vision for a permanent Australian centre
for research in desalination and water security.

The NCEDA has also developed a broad portfolio of
industry services that weave together its academic
research with practical technical know-how. The
Centre has built a pilot-scale testing facility that
can be utilised for contract research, equipment
testing and process validation, and its reputation
for delivering professional development training for
desalination plant operators is growing. Community
outreach and schools education programs educate
and inform the public on the benefits of desalination.

The Centre in its short life has developed strong links
between academia and industry with 50 research
projects, over 300 researchers and more than
100 Australian and international project partners.
Established to focus on improving desalination
technologies, reducing energy use and carbon
emissions and providing solutions for rural and
regional Australian communities, the Centre has
quickly established itself among global leaders in
desalination research.

NCEDA’s focus during 2014 will be to build a
stronger team of end users and research providers
to continue Australian desalination research in the
long term. Major themes are expected to include
desalination for people, food and industry. The
Centre aims to be innovative so that technical
capability for new and more secure water supplies
can be developed. With abundant water, the nation’s
wealth can be increased as it becomes a net exporter
of water solutions and food to a hungry world.

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