Preliminary Programme

 

Tuesday 04 November 2025 Wednesday 05 November 2025

9:00 AM - 9:25 AM

Opening address from the Founder and CEO of Desalination Technology Expo & Conference

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Plenary Keynote
Session time: 9:00 AM - 9:25 AM

9:25 AM - 9:50 AM

Global Trends in Advanced Desalination Technology: Shaping the Future of Water Sustainability

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Plenary Keynote
Session time: 9:25 AM - 9:50 AM

9:50 AM - 10:15 AM

Brine Mining and Valorization Global Outlook: New Frontiers in Resource Recovery

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Plenary Keynote
Session time: 9:50 AM - 10:15 AM

10:15 AM - 10:40 AM

Integrating SMR Technologies for Sustainable and Reliable Energy in Desalination

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Plenary Keynote
Session time: 10:15 AM - 10:40 AM

10:40 AM - 11:10 AM

Coffee Break

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Coffee Break
Session time: 10:40 AM - 11:10 AM

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Technological Innovations in Brine Mining: From Theory to Practice

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Panel Discussion
Session time: 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

11:10 AM - 11:35 AM

Innovation in Seawater Desalination

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 11:10 AM - 11:35 AM

11:35 AM - 12:00 PM

IDIWATER project and Desal+ living lab

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 11:35 AM - 12:00 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982578] IDIWATER project and Desal+ living lab
IDIWATER project and Desal+ living lab 		Juan Ramón Rodriguez Aleman , Baltasar Peñate

11:45 AM - 12:10 PM

Driving Industrial Brine Valorization: Key Challenges and Emerging Pathways

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 11:45 AM - 12:10 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981887] Driving Industrial Brine Valorization: Key Challenges and Emerging Pathways
Driving Industrial Brine Valorization: Key Challenges and Emerging Pathways 		Christine Kleffner

12:00 PM - 12:25 PM

Saudi Arabia's Water Missions for Global Sustainability and Innovation

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 12:00 PM - 12:25 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981906] Saudi Arabia's Water Missions for Global Sustainability and Innovation
Saudi Arabia's Water Missions for Global Sustainability and Innovation 		Eydhah Almatrafi

12:10 PM - 12:35 PM

Novel membrane approached to high brine concentration and crystallization

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 12:10 PM - 12:35 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981888] Novel membrane approached to high brine concentration and crystallization
Novel membrane approached to high brine concentration and crystallization 		Keith Lampi , Edward Beaudry

12:25 PM - 1:45 PM

Lunch Break

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Lunch Break
Session time: 12:25 PM - 1:45 PM

12:35 PM - 2:00 PM

Lunch Break

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Lunch Break
Session time: 12:35 PM - 2:00 PM

1:45 PM - 2:10 PM

Poly-generation of power and desalinated water by Small Modular Reactors

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 1:45 PM - 2:10 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981894] Poly-generation of power and desalinated water by Small Modular Reactors
Poly-generation of power and desalinated water by Small Modular Reactors 		Marco Cioffi , Marco Mantero

2:00 PM - 2:20 PM

PPP Power: Unlocking Brine's Value, Shaping a Sustainable Future

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Speaker: Hu Fleming
Session type: Fireside Chat
Session time: 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM

2:10 PM - 2:35 PM

30 years of desalination experience: repeated mistakes

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Speaker: Paul Buijs
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 2:10 PM - 2:35 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981820] 30 years of desalination experience: repeated mistakes
30 years of desalination experience: repeated mistakes 		Paul Buijs

2:20 PM - 2:45 PM

Brine Mining Valorization and Commercialization

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 2:20 PM - 2:45 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982016] Brine mining valorization and commercialization
Brine mining valorization and commercialization 		Ahmed Alamoudi

2:35 PM - 3:20 PM

Breaking the Cycle: Learning from 30 Years of Repeated Efficiency Mistakes

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Moderator: Paul Buijs
Session type: Panel Discussion
Session time: 2:35 PM - 3:20 PM

2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Economic Viability and Business Models for Brine Mining

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Panel Discussion
Session time: 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

3:20 PM - 3:50 PM

Coffee Break

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Coffee Break
Session time: 3:20 PM - 3:50 PM

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Coffee Break

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Coffee Break
Session time: 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

3:50 PM - 4:35 PM

Water for the Future: Desalination and the Rise of Water-Hungry Industries

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Panel Discussion
Session time: 3:50 PM - 4:35 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982836] Water for the Future: Desalination and the Rise of Water-Hungry Industries

As Europe advances toward a decarbonised and digital economy, the demand for high-quality water is becoming a defining challenge for emerging industries. Green hydrogen production and data centre operations — two pillars of this transition — require substantial volumes of water, placing new pressures on existing water systems and sparking innovation in supply and efficiency.

This session brings together leaders from the green hydrogen sector and the data centre industry to explore how desalination and water resource planning can support the scaling of these critical technologies. Panelists will share insights into the water demands of various hydrogen production pathways, emerging solutions to reduce water intensity, and how co-locating with desalination infrastructure could offer strategic advantages. A representative from the data centre industry will also highlight the growing need for sustainable water use in cooling systems, and how operators are navigating water stress, regulation, and community expectations.

Together, the panel will examine the intersection of water, energy, and infrastructure — asking what it will take to future-proof industrial growth while ensuring environmental and social sustainability.

Water for the Future: Desalination and the Rise of Water-Hungry Industries

4:00 PM - 4:25 PM

Global Outlook on Brine Mining and Valorization

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 4:00 PM - 4:25 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982022] Global Outlook on Brine Mining and Valorization
Global Outlook on Brine Mining and Valorization 		Christos Charisiadis

4:25 PM - 4:50 PM

Towards Neutrality Through Renewable Energy, Brine Reuse And Innovation

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 4:25 PM - 4:50 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981889] Towards Neutrality Through Renewable Energy, Brine Reuse And Innovation
Towards Neutrality Through Renewable Energy, Brine Reuse And Innovation 		Alberto Gonzalez , Antonino Campioni

4:35 PM - 5:00 PM

Presentation TBC Shortly

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 4:35 PM - 5:00 PM

5:00 PM - 5:25 PM

Scalable, Selective, Sustainable: Ion-selective Desalination for the Future

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 5:00 PM - 5:25 PM

9:00 AM - 9:25 AM

AI With Purpose: Why We're Rethinking Desalination

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 9:00 AM - 9:25 AM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981912] AI With Purpose: Why We're Rethinking Desalination
AI With Purpose: Why We're Rethinking Desalination 		Vanesa Fernandez

The Realities of Seawater Brine Valorization

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 9:00 AM - 9:25 AM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981891] The Realities of Seawater Brine Valorization
The Realities of Seawater Brine Valorization 		Christopher Fellows

9:25 AM - 9:50 AM

From Algorithms to Autonomy: The AI Evolution in Water Systems

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 9:25 AM - 9:50 AM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981913] From Algorithms to Autonomy: The AI Evolution in Water Systems
From Algorithms to Autonomy: The AI Evolution in Water Systems 		Sandro Hansen

Open Testbed for Advancing Brine Valorisation under Real Conditions

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 9:25 AM - 9:50 AM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981892] Open Testbed for Advancing Brine Valorisation under Real Conditions
Open Testbed for Advancing Brine Valorisation under Real Conditions 		Ángel Rivero Falcón , Yanira López López , Baltasar Peñate Suárez

9:50 AM - 10:35 AM

The Role of Automation and AI in Desalination

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 9:50 AM - 10:15 AM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981911] The Role of Automation and AI in Desalination
The Role of Automation and AI in Desalination 		Rami Youssef

Case Studies: Global Examples of Brine Mining in Action

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Panel Discussion
Session time: 9:50 AM - 10:35 AM

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Coffee Break

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Coffee Break
Session time: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

10:35 AM - 11:05 AM

Coffee Break

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Coffee Break
Session time: 10:35 AM - 11:05 AM

11:00 AM - 11:25 AM

Considerations for Floating Nuclear Desalination Plants

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 11:00 AM - 11:25 AM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981914] Considerations for Floating Nuclear Desalination Plants
Considerations for Floating Nuclear Desalination Plants 		Nial Turner , Thomas Davies

11:05 AM - 11:30 AM

Unlocking the Potential of High Salinity Streams in Saudi Arabia

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 11:05 AM - 11:30 AM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[981893] Unlocking the Potential of High Salinity Streams in Saudi Arabia
Unlocking the Potential of High Salinity Streams in Saudi Arabia 		Sarah Almahfoodh

11:25 AM - 11:50 AM

Developing an alternative water quality characterization system before RO

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 11:25 AM - 11:50 AM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982017] Developing an alternative water quality characterization system before RO
Developing an alternative water quality characterization system before RO 		Maryam Alsuwaidi , Anton Dukhov , Fahed Ebisi , Ghaiath Almustafa

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Environmental and Sustainability Considerations in Brine Mining

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Panel Discussion
Session time: 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

11:50 AM - 12:15 PM

Desalination for Climate Resilience

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 11:50 AM - 12:15 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982564] Desalination for Climate Resilience.
Desalination for Climate Resilience. 		Mahmoud Ghnaimat

12:15 PM - 12:40 PM

Engineering Next-Generation Membranes to Achieve Global Sustainability Goals

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Speaker: Eric Hoek
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 12:15 PM - 12:40 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982005] Engineering Next-Generation Membranes to Achieve Global Sustainability Goals
Engineering Next-Generation Membranes to Achieve Global Sustainability Goals 		Eric Hoek

Multichannel thermodiffusion: A new paradigm in thermal desalination

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 12:15 PM - 12:40 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982560] Multichannel thermodiffusion: A new paradigm in thermal desalination
Multichannel thermodiffusion: A new paradigm in thermal desalination 		Juan Felipe Torres

12:40 PM - 2:00 PM

Lunch Break

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Lunch Break
Session time: 12:40 PM - 2:00 PM

Lunch Break

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Lunch Break
Session time: 12:40 PM - 2:00 PM

2:00 PM - 2:25 PM

Resilience by Turning Desalination Upside-Down, Literally

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 2:00 PM - 2:25 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982565] Resilience by Turning Desalination Upside-Down, Literally.
Resilience by Turning Desalination Upside-Down, Literally. 		Alexander Fuglesang

Valuable Metals in Desalination Brine: From Lithium to Rare Earth Elements

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 2:00 PM - 2:25 PM

2:25 PM - 2:50 PM

Electrochemical Pre-Treatment: Revolutionising RO Efficiency in Desalination

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Speaker: Chris Rose
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 2:25 PM - 2:50 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982000] Electrochemical Pre-Treatment: Revolutionising RO Efficiency in Desalination
Electrochemical Pre-Treatment: Revolutionising RO Efficiency in Desalination 		Chris Rose

Brine valorization with low salt rejection (LSRRO) reverse osmosis membranes

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 2:25 PM - 2:50 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982021] Brine valorization with low salt rejection (LSRRO) reverse osmosis membranes
Brine valorization with low salt rejection (LSRRO) reverse osmosis membranes 		Guillem Gilabert-Oriol

2:50 PM - 3:15 PM

Sustainable Desalination Living Lab: Innovation for Water Management in Semi-Arid

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session time: 2:50 PM - 3:15 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982167] Sustainable Desalination Living Lab: Innovation for Water Management in Semi-Arid
Sustainable Desalination Living Lab: Innovation for Water Management in Semi-Arid 		Alba Ruiz Aguirre

Transforming Waste to Resource: Brine Refinery for Enhanced Circularity

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 2:50 PM - 3:15 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982008] Transforming Waste to Resource: Brine Refinery for Enhanced Circularity
Transforming Waste to Resource: Brine Refinery for Enhanced Circularity 		Mohammad Reza Alizadehfard

3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Coffee Break

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Coffee Break
Session time: 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Coffee Break

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Session type: Coffee Break
Session time: 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

3:45 PM - 4:10 PM

Enabling Sustainable Desalination with SMR-300 Heat and Power Supply

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 3:45 PM - 4:10 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982562] Enabling Sustainable Desalination with SMR-300 Heat and Power Supply
Enabling Sustainable Desalination with SMR-300 Heat and Power Supply 		Daniel Gallego Zamorano

Nature based treatment of iron and ammonium rich RO concentrate

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Speaker: Ron Jong
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 3:45 PM - 4:10 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982014] Nature based treatment of iron and ammonium rich RO concentrate
Nature based treatment of iron and ammonium rich RO concentrate 		Ron Jong , Gaston Kross , Michel Colin , Rene Van der Aa

4:10 PM - 4:35 PM

SWRO/BWRO optimization - a project or an off-the-shelf solution

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Speaker: Natan Zuta
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 4:10 PM - 4:35 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982566] SWRO/BWRO optimization - a project or an off-the-shelf solution
SWRO/BWRO optimization - a project or an off-the-shelf solution 		Natan Zuta

Coupled versus decoupled Seawater brine valorization for desalination plants

Location: Room B - Brine Mining & Valorization
Speaker: Avijit Dey
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 4:10 PM - 4:35 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982012] Coupled versus decoupled Seawater brine valorization for desalination plants
Coupled versus decoupled Seawater brine valorization for desalination plants 		Avijit Dey

4:35 PM - 5:00 PM

Crosslinked nZVI-kappa carrageenan hydrogel for leachate remediation and resource recovery

Location: Room A - Desalination & Energy (SMR)
Speaker: Ali Altaee
Session type: Keynote Presentation
Session time: 4:35 PM - 5:00 PM
Presentation title Speaker/Authors
[982567] Crosslinked nZVI-kappa carrageenan hydrogel for leachate remediation and resource recovery
Crosslinked nZVI-kappa carrageenan hydrogel for leachate remediation and resource recovery 		Ali Altaee , Ali Altaee