Desalination RO Filtration Membrane Market Size, Trends [2031]

Report Description

Market Outlook:

The global desalination RO filtration membrane market was estimated at USD 6,372.2 Million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 14,894.0 Million by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 10.0% during the forecast period.

Membrane desalination is the process by which salt and minerals are removed from water solution when water passes through a semipermeable membrane. Reverse osmosis is a process in which pressure, that is higher than the natural osmotic pressure, is applied on the high concentration side of the membrane, forcing the water to travel through the membrane from the higher total dissolved solids to lower total dissolved solids chamber, thus reversing the natural tendency of water flow.

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Osmotic pressure is the minimum pressure required to stop solvent flow through the semipermeable membrane. Therefore, when the solution side, which is the side where the solute concentration is high, is subjected to a pressure higher than the osmotic pressure, the solvent particles on the solution side move through the semipermeable membrane to the region where the solute concentration is low. Such inverse solvent movement through the semipermeable membrane is called reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis can be effectively used for water purification. Membrane filtration through reverse osmosis is one of the most used technology for desalination of seawater and brackish water.

Salt removal through reverse osmosis process is typically carried out where pre-filtered saline water is passed through reserves osmosis membrane modules. Thin film composite membrane is one of the most common membrane type used for desalination through reverse osmosis. Global demand for potable water in increasing rapidly with population and industrialization. Parameters such as increasing water demand coupled with decrease water yields from ground water sources has forced the policy makers and organizations to build and develop infrastructure such as desalination plants.

Macro-economic Factors

Government Regulations

Increased consumer awareness regarding clean water and filtration processes influences the desalination RO filtration membrane market. This includes a rise in government regulations on safety and filtration, which drives the market. For instance, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the main federal law that ensures the quality of drinking water in the US. Under SDWA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for drinking water quality and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement standards. Growing support from the government has increased the consumption of clean water. The desalination of water gets done with the help of RO filtration membrane, and it is expected to influence the market. Stringent environmental regulations and water scarcity continue to drive the demand for high-quality water and wastewater treatment solutions, thereby impacting the demand for desalination RO filtration membrane.

Industrialization

Industrialization influences the demand for clean water in the power generation, oil & gas, microelectronics manufacturing, pharmaceutical, food & beverages, and other industries. According to the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB), global industrial production increased by 3.3% in 2022. This reflects an increase in output to the 2.8% annual average for the previous ten years. China, the US, Japan, Germany, India, South Korea, Italy, France, the UK, and Indonesia are the top 10 manufacturing nations across the globe. In advanced economies, industrial production exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2022. Industrial production in the European Union went up 8% in 2021 as compared with 2020 and has continued its upward trend with a 5% increase in 2022 as compared with 2021. Industrial production globally has increased by 4% in 2022 as compared to the previous year (2021). The rapid industrialization is helping the desalination RO filtration membrane market to expand.

Population

Population growth across the globe is increasing the demand for clean water. According to Healing Waters, about a third of the global population already deals with water stress or limited access to clean water. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), about 97 percent of Earth water is in the ocean and a small percentage of water is safe for human consumption. Desalination RO filtration membrane is used to remove dissolved mineral salts in water. Currently, this process is applied to seawater to obtain fresh water for human consumption or agricultural purposes. The percentage of people without access to clean water increases with the increasing population. The increased consumption and demand for clean water are propelling the desalination RO filtration membrane market.

Market Dynamics

Market Driver- Government regulations and increasing demand for clean drinking water

Government regulations and rising demand for clean & processed drinking water are propelling the market. Saudi Arabia contributes significantly to the production of desalinated water, with a daily capacity of 117 million cubic feet. The country has 27 desalination facilities spread throughout its coastline, with 21 near the Red Sea and six on the East Coast. The country has the largest floating desalination plant across the globe, with a capacity of up to 882,867 cubic feet. Aquifers are the primary source of fresh water in the UAE. However, majority of aquifer water is saline, with some up to eight times the salinity than seawater, and therefore, hazardous for human consumption. Hence, the government of Abu Dhabi has substantially invested in seawater desalination, building eight desalination facilities in the Gulf state at a cost of more than USD 3.2 billion. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established global drinking water standards for all countries. All of these regulations and required water treatment activities are expected to expand the market in the coming years.

Market Driver- Growing Application in the Industrial Sector

Reverse osmosis is widely utilized in various industries, including process water and feeds to boilers for steam generation as well as in certain circumstances, process cooling towers. The creation of steam is essential for the manufacturing process. Therefore, steam generation is required to satisfy the demand in addition to significantly increase manufacturing capacity. Purified water is crucial in the reaction mechanism in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food & beverage industries, where reverse osmosis membrane technology plays an important role. The expansion of such programs is expected to raise demand for RO product water in the coming years, and therefore, the demand for desalination RO filtration membrane is expected to propel the market during the forecast period.

Market Restraint- Membrane Fouling and Scaling

Desalination RO filtration membrane is becoming increasingly popular across the globe, as the water treatment industry expands. However, fouling and scalability are key limitations of the adoption of these membranes. Fouling occurs in cellulose-based and thin-film composite membranes. There are four kinds of fouling, including biological, colloidal, scaling, and organic. Scaling in desalination facilities is mostly caused by salt saturation on the membrane surface, and fouling results in lower flux in the membrane life span. Fouling is managed by employing disinfectants, anti-scaling agents, and other pre-treatments to some extent, which increases its operating costs. This increases the shift to alternate methods such as electrodialysis, which is another method used to desalinate large volumes of water. It uses membranes that only allow the passage of either negatively charged or positively charged ions at a time. Fouling occurs and represents a critical area for development in membrane quality, hampering the growth of the desalination RO filtration membrane market.

Market Opportunity- Growing Demand from Developing Countries

The need for water desalination from seas and oceans is expected to rise in emerging countries during the forecast period. Countries in the Middle East and South America are developing water desalination and brackish water treatment plants to address water scarcity issues. The desalination RO filtration membrane is the widely used technology for seawater & brackish water desalination and accounts for a significant portion of all desalination facilities as it consumes less energy than other methods. Growing requirement for potable water in developing countries for drinking, agriculture, and other industrial application accounts for the rising demand for desalination RO filtration membranes in water treatment operations, particularly in Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa.

Scope of the Report

The report on the global desalination RO filtration membrane market includes an assessment of the market, trends, segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.

Segmental Outlook

On the basis of source, the desalination RO filtration membrane market is divided into brackish water and seawater.

The seawater segment held a market share of XX% in 2022 and is expected to hold XX% market share in 2031. RO seawater desalination membrane removes dissolved solids while separating the input water into purified water and rejecting concentrated salts, resulting in purified water with less dissolved solids and salts. These seawater reverse osmosis filtration membranes are extremely powerful and capable of purifying water with extremely high total dissolved solids levels.

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On the basis of material, the market is divided into thin film composites, graphene based, and others.

The thin film composites segment held XX% market share in 2022 and is expected to hold XX% market share in 2031. Thin film composite membranes are widely used in the treatment of water and wastewater. Thin film composite membranes are primarily utilized in water purification or desalination systems. These membranes feature a high rejection rate for unwanted elements such as metal ions and salts as well as a high mechanical strength and filtering rate. These membranes have exceptional chemical and mechanical stability as well as high membrane formability. Furthermore, these membranes have been shown to increase water permeability, resulting in high water recovery along with excellent treated water quality.

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On the basis of end use, the market is fragmented into municipal, industrial, and others.

The industrial segment held XX% market share in 2022 and is expected to hold XX% in 2031. Purified water is crucial in various operations in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food & beverage industries, where reverse osmosis member technology plays an important role. The increasing focus of government authorities across the globe on implementing stringent regulations mandating wastewater treatment to protect the environment and conserve water resources. Additionally, the rising global water scarcity further emphasizes the need for efficient wastewater treatment solutions. Reverse osmosis is widely utilized in various sectors, including process water and feeds to boilers for steam generation and process cooling towers. The expansion of these industries is expected to boost demand for RO product water as well as the demand for desalination RO filtration membranes.

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Regional Outlook

On the basis of region, the desalination RO filtration membrane market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

North America has a significant market share in the global reverse osmosis filtration membrane market, and it is expected register a substantial growth in the coming years. The market growth is attributed to the surging demand for reverse osmosis membranes driven by the increasing need for clean and potable water in the region. The presence of major key players in the region also adds to its advantage, as it ensures a steady supply of advanced technologies as well as creates significant growth opportunities for the overall market in North America.

Middle East and North America region holds highest desalination capacity in the world. Countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Israel have actively developed desalination plants so as to cater to the rising need to clean water. Number of desalination plants in the Moddle East and Africa region are expected to increase in the coming years as countries such as Saudi Arabia continue to push desalination technology ahead.

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Key Developments

• In November 2022, Saudi-Abunayyan Holding and Japan-based Toray Industries announced a partnership to build first RO membrane facility in Saudi Arabia. The facility is expected to have a capacity of 254,000 membranes per year and is estimated to commence operations in 2025.

Key Benefits for Industry Participants & Stakeholders

• In-depth Analysis of the Global Desalination RO Filtration Membrane Market

• Historical, Current, and Projected Market Size in terms of Value

• Potential & Niche Segments and Regions Exhibiting Promising Growth Covered

• Industry Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities Covered in the Study

• Recent Industry Trends and Developments

• Competitive Landscape & Strategies of Key Players

• Neutral Perspective on Global Desalination RO Filtration Membrane Market Performance