Biggest investments in water sector in 2023

Summaries of the year just passed are just flooding the Internet. The wave has reached the Business and Economics section of “Water Matters” here as well. We hereby submit to our esteemed readers a summary of the largest investments in the water sector of 2023. Let’s start with our garden.

Offshore Wind Energy in Poland

Debates at the 9th Energy Congress in Wroclaw indicate that. Poland plans to spend about PLN 250 billion over the next few years to develop offshore wind energy. An additional 40 billion zlotys will be used to expand energy networks and infrastructure. The Polish wind power market, according to representatives of foreign investors, both onshore and offshore, is attractive. Maximizing the Baltic’s potential depends on speeding up investment procedures, which require the modification of nearly 30 laws. Support for the development of the OWE sector has huge employment potential – at 60,000. people over the next several years.

Water treatment plant in Plock

At ORLEN S.A. in Plock, construction of the Vistula water treatment and demineralization station has symbolically begun. The value of the project, which is being carried out by a consortium of industry companies, is nearly PLN 1.27 billion net. The driving of the proverbial shovel into the ground is the first step in the realization of a key investment for ORLEN S.A.

The plant, as an integral part of the production infrastructure, will treat water from the Vistula River to give it better parameters. It will also protect the environment by treating wastewater more thoroughly and reusing reclaimed resources. ORLEN uses 23.7 million cubic meters of water annually at its largest refinery, in Plock, with 905 million cubic meters circulating. The source of resources for power and cooling purposes is Vistula water, while for technical safety purposes it is entirely from treated wastewater from the site, which is part of the partial closure of the water cycle.

Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the UK

Danish energy company Orsted has announced the final investment decision (FID) for the third phase of the project Hornsea 3, which is expected to be the largest offshore wind farm in the world. It is expected to reach 2.9 GW and be located on the east coast of the UK, 160 km from Yorkshire. Orsted has already completed two previous phases, Hornsea 1 (1.2 GW) and Hornsea 2 (1.3 GW), operated from an operations center in Grimsby. Hornsea 3 is expected to provide energy to meet the needs of more than 3.3 million British homes. During the construction phase, the project is also expected to provide up to 5,000. jobs, and construction will be handled from a center in Grimsby.

The project is expected to cost 70-75 billion Danish kroner ($10.3-11.0 billion) and be finalized by the end of 2027. Orsted was awarded a Contract for Difference (CfD) last July, planning to take advantage of flexibility in wind power capacity, which may allow it to obtain a higher energy rate in the next auction. He is planning the possible development of the next stage, Hornsea 4, with a capacity of up to 2.6 GW. The corporation has already signed key contracts, including with Siemens Gamesa for the supply of wind turbines, and intends to realize the world’s largest cluster of offshore wind farms with a capacity of 5.4 GW. UK by 2030. plans to deploy offshore wind farms with a total capacity of 50 GW, and Orsted considers this market a key one.

Construction of a water reservoir in Hampshire

GHD has announced the start of work on the construction of Havant Thicket Reservoir, a large water reservoir in Hampshire County. This is the first project of its kind in the British Isles since the 1980s. In the 1970s. Havant Thicket Reservoir is considered a landmark project from the perspective of sustainability and investment in the water sector. The project is expected to be a key piece of infrastructure in the region and contribute to alleviating the water crisis in southeast England.

The joint venture, Future Water JV, on behalf of the Portsmouth Water, will be responsible for the construction of the 8.7 billion-liter reservoir. Portsmouth Water has secured capital of 325 million British pounds, and the project is to be financed through water bills paid over the next 80 years.

Development of the North Head Treatment Plant in Sydney

The North Head wastewater treatment plant in Sydney has become a key tool to support agriculture in the New South Wales region. The $94 million investment. has a significant impact on fertilizer production for farmers in the Central Tablelands. As part of the work started in 2021. Two digesters were installed, raising the production of fertilizer from sewage sludge from 40 to 70 tons per day. The treatment plant has become an example of successful technological modernization, inspiring other companies in the water sector around the world.

Rather than being viewed as waste, sewage sludge is there as a valuable source of organic materials, nutrients and beneficial bacteria. The treatment plant focuses on a closed-loop economy using these resources. Once the upgrade is completed, the North Head treatment plant is expected to supply virtually 100 percent by 2043. Sewage sludge fertilizers for agriculture. According to its management, this will reduce landfill waste, reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and improve soil structure, offering farmers cheaper and greener fertilizers.

Record funding for water sector in US

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a historic investment of more than $278 million. to improve the water and wastewater infrastructure of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. This represents the largest annual allocation of funds for water infrastructure.

About $38 million. has been allocated for a new Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Tribal Grant Program. It aims to address contaminants, including PFAS, that occur in water supply systems serving tribal populations.

The grant program for rural areas and indigenous villages in Alaska has received $39.6 million. The funds are for the construction of priority water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as for training, technical assistance and educational programs to support sustainable water systems.

Egypt Vison 2030 Program

Climate change, population growth and problems with access to water mean that Egypt is facing a water crisis. The Nile, considered “liquid gold,” is a major source of water, and its shortage can lead to humanitarian, environmental and economic crises. Pharaoh’s country, sharing the river’s waters with Sudan and Ethiopia, is concerned about the impact of the newly constructed dam on water access. The conflict, although so far without an armed clash, is affecting the political situation in the region.

In the pursuit of sustainable development, the program is intended to help Egypt Vision 2030. One of its goals is to increase water security through infrastructure upgrades, use of non-riverine resources and sustainable consumption patterns. The Egyptian government plans to invest more than $4.7 trillion. into the water sector. Activities include expansion of waterways, land reclamation, use of rainwater, construction of wastewater treatment plants and desalination of marine resources. The investments are aimed at increasing access to clean water for the country’s residents.

The water sector – a bottomless well?

The World Bank is investing in the water sector around the globe. By 2023, it was running 216 projects worth a total of $13.5 billion. Global Water and Sanitation Partnership, supported by a World Bank trust fund, provided access to water or sanitation to nearly 30 million people. Achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal requires a total investment of $1.4 trillion, six times the amount invested last year. This indicates the growing value of water and related transactions.

Such investments are also gaining popularity in the stock market. The global water market is on an upward trend, reaching about $915 billion. 2023. Forecasts point to its steady growth of 7 percent. annually until 2028. This means that it is worth investing in water-related projects, especially as the demand for this resource is increasing and its availability to people is decreasing. Such placement of funds can not only bring profit to investors, but also support sustainable development of communities around the world.