Desalination Technologies Market Report 2026

The desalination technologies market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $21.49 billion in 2025 to $23.89 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising freshwater scarcity in arid regions, growth of municipal water supply demand, expansion of seawater desalination plants, adoption of conventional msf and med processes, increasing industrial water requirements.

The desalination technologies market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $36.69 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing need for energy-efficient desalination solutions, adoption of advanced ro and hybrid technologies, integration of ai and iot for smart desalination operations, expansion of desalination infrastructure in developing regions, focus on sustainable and low-emission water treatment processes. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of reverse osmosis (ro) technology, deployment of multi-stage flash (msf) and multi-effect distillation (med) systems, integration of hybrid ro and low-energy desalination processes, growing use of modular and small-scale desalination plants, implementation of smart monitoring and automation in desalination facilities.

The rising water scarcity is expected to drive the growth of the desalination technology market in the future. Water scarcity occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available supply, which can result from physical limitations or insufficient infrastructure and management. Factors contributing to increasing water scarcity include population growth, climate change, water pollution, over-extraction of groundwater, inefficient water use, deforestation, land degradation, and conflicts over water resources. Desalination technology offers a sustainable and reliable source of freshwater, especially in regions experiencing severe water stress and scarcity. This technology plays a crucial role in promoting water conservation and implementing efficient water management practices, which are essential alongside desalination efforts. For instance, in March 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a specialized agency of the United Nations based in France, reported that the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to reach between 1.7 and 2.4 billion people by 2050. Therefore, the increasing water scarcity is a significant driver of growth in the desalination technology market.

Major companies operating in the desalination technologies market are focusing on developing innovative solutions, such as energy-efficient membranes, to improve water production efficiency and sustainability. Energy-efficient membranes are specially engineered filtration materials used in desalination that minimize the energy required to remove salt and impurities from water while maintaining high water output. For instance, in October 2025, Acciona S.A., a Spain-based renewable energy, water, and infrastructure company, launched dual-model AI technology to enhance desalination efficiency at its reverse osmosis plants. The system combines a simulation-based model for optimizing operational settings with a real-time AI tool that dynamically adjusts parameters to improve energy performance and water output. This advanced approach has been implemented in plants in Qatar, enabling centralized monitoring and enhanced sustainability through ACCIONA’s Water Control Centre in Madrid. By integrating predictive modeling with adaptive AI, the technology substantially reduces energy consumption while ensuring high-quality water production.

In May 2023, Xylem Inc., a US-based company specializing in developing innovative water solutions through smart technology, completed the acquisition of Evoqua Water Technologies for $7.5 billion. This strategic move was aimed at establishing the world's largest pure-play water technology company. The acquisition was intended to address customers' mission-critical needs by offering an unparalleled portfolio of products and services. Additionally, it aimed to create a transformative platform to tackle critical water challenges on a larger scale. Evoqua Water Technologies, headquartered in the US, specializes in providing water and wastewater desalination technology.

Major companies operating in the desalination technologies market are Hitachi Ltd., Veolia Environnement SA, Suez SA, Acciona SA, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Doosan Enerbility Co. Ltd., Danfoss A/S, Webuild SpA, Xylem Inc., Abengoa SA, BWT AG, Ampac USA, Aquatech International LLC, Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd., H2O Innovation Inc., Hyflux Limited, IDE Technologies, FISIA ITALIMPIANTI S.p.A, Aqualyng AS, Keppel Seghers Pte Ltd., Komax Systems Inc., Dow Water & Process Solutions, Degremont, John Holland Group, Tianjin MOTIMO Membrane Technology Co. Ltd., Toray Industries Inc., Toyobo Co. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the desalination technologies market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the desalination technologies market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the desalination technologies market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The desalination technologies market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as design and engineering services, operation and maintenance, chemical supply and management, testing and analysis, and construction and installation. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The desalination technologies market also includes sales of pumps, membrane modules, pressure vessels, pre-treatment equipment, energy recovery devices, monitoring and control systems, and chemical dosing systems. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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