SUEZ commissions China’s largest industrial membrane-based seawater desalination plant

A landmark seawater desalination plant, designed and built by SUEZ for Wanhua Chemical Group—one of the world’s top 20 chemical companies—has officially begun operations at Wanhua Chemical’s Penglai Industrial Park in Yantai, Shandong.

Designed with a total capacity of 300,000 m3 per day to be delivered in three phases, this is the largest industrial membrane-based seawater desalination project planned in China to date. Officials from local government and representatives from key partners—including Wanhua Chemical Group, China Railway Shanghai Engineering Group Co., Ltd., Beijing Shougang International Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., and SUEZ, gathered to mark this significant milestone in Sino-French cooperation in sustainable water solutions.

Setting a new benchmark for China’s industrial seawater desalination plant
As a global leader in membrane-based seawater desalination engineering, SUEZ brings international expertise and innovation to this plant. The Group deploys advanced reverse osmosis membrane technology to convert seawater into freshwater, supplying it as the primary industrial water source for Wanhua Chemical's Penglai Industrial Park.

The facility employs low-carbon, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible processes, achieving over 15% cost savings compared to conventional dual-membrane technologies. With the full commissioning of the first phase, it will produce 100,000 m³ of desalinated water daily, resulting in annual savings of over 36 million m³ of freshwater. Additionally, the facility features a highly advanced automation system, making it China’s first fully automated desalination plant.

Meeting industrial water needs and preserving resources
As part of its national water security strategy, China is broadening the large-scale application of seawater desalination. Shandong Province, for instance, faces acute water scarcity, with per capita water resources measured at less than one-sixth of the national average. Leveraging its geographical advantages, Shandong has prioritised seawater desalination as a strategic, fast-developing industry.

This Penglai facility is a flagship initiative under China’s and Shandong Province’s seawater desalination strategies. Its signing during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to China in April 2023—witnessed by senior officials from both countries—marks an important milestone in Sino-French cooperation on sustainable water solutions. By enhancing regional water resilience, the project helps ease local freshwater shortages while conserving scarce resources. It also sets a replicable model for water security in coastal areas and supports climate change adaptation in the industrial sector.