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AED 3.4 Million

ReThink Brine Challenge

1. Challenge Background:

As modern methods for desalination become more efficient, cost effective, and commonly utilised, there is an increasing demand to find alternative solutions for the brine discharge created because of the desalination process, which can cause negative effects on the environment if not disposed of properly.

Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technologies are of considerable interest because they are an environmentally acceptable means for disposal of brine discharge at many desalination sites, particularly those located in inland areas. Traditional brine evaporation steps tend to be very energy intensive and are associated with large carbon footprints.

Currently there are no viable solutions to brine discharge and some commercial solutions are either not feasible or not tested. Discharging into an area that is unaffected by the saline water is one option. Another is finding an offsetting economic value for the dry residue such as using the brine discharge to create construction material. According to the annual economic report 2018, the construction and building activities in the UAE contributed to 8.7 % of the GDP in 2017. The UAE is a fast-growing country taking major tech leaps into the future and this challenge will aim to provide a viable input to the construction sector while protecting the environment.

2. Challenge Objective:

The primary objective of this challenge is to: 

- develop technologies that produce commercially viable construction material at scale from brine discharge, or;

medical products, such as disinfectants, which can help in combating COVID-19 and other pandemics.


Sponsors
Environment AgencyAldar

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ReThink Brine Challenge

Impact

Globally there are 15 906 desalination plants and over 2 240 of these desalination plants are in the Arabian Peninsula. But the process of desalination produces a by-product of concentrated salt-water called Brine and about 486 of the plants in the gulf region account for over 14 million m3/day of brine and chemical by-products being discharge into the Arabian Gulf. If not disposed of properly, brine can negatively affect our environment and marine life. This competition will help find alternatives to brine discharge by developing commercially viable construction material from brine.


Protecting Marine Life
Eco-Friendly Construction & Real Estate Sector
Supporting UAE Water Security Strategy 2036

H.E. Dr. Shaikha Al Dhaheri

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi is delighted to partner with Sandooq Al Watan for the ReThink Brine Challenge. Brine discharge has become a significant global environmental problem that poses major risks to ocean life and marine ecosystems and it requires a collective effort to tackle this issue in Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Dr. Shaikha Al DhaheriActing Secretary General of EAD
H.E. Talal Al Dhiyebi

Core to our mission is identifying topics that matter to our community and working with partners to solve those problems impacting our environment. If brine discharge can be turned into construction material, this will further Aldar’s goals of reducing its impact on our planet and supporting R&D efforts into sustainable building methods.

H.E. Talal Al DhiyebiChief Executive Officer, Aldar Properties

How to win

The Grand Prize of AED 2.5 million will be awarded to the team that develops commercially viable construction material or medical product from brine discharge within the time period specified in the competition timeline.

Participants must consider:

The following requirements are not mandatory but demonstrating the two criteria within the developed technology will be viewed more favourably:


Timeline
22ndMar2020
Prize Announcement
11thOct2020
Team Registration & Summary Proposal Deadline
15thNov2020
End of Round 1: Shortlisted Teams Announced
01stMar2021
Detailed Proposal Submission
16thJun2021
End of Round 2: Shortlisted Teams Announced
28thJul2022
Prototype Submission
29thSep2022
End of Round 3: Shortlisted Teams Announced
28thMar2024
Proof of Concept Demonstration
24thMay2024
Prize End Date: Winner Announced & Grand Prize Awarded