India’s escalating water crisis has given rise to desalination as a promising solution, leveraging the country’s extensive 7,800 km coastline to access abundant seawater resources. The desalination market in the country is experiencing growing interest, driven by the exploration of innovative technologies that are fuelling steady growth and expansion.
Many operational plants in India are deploying advanced treatment processes and technologies such as reverse osmosis (RO), multi-effect distillation (MED), low temperature thermal desalination (LTTD) technology and others to improve treatment efficiency and scalability in the country.
Of late there has also been an uptake of several research and development (R&D)-related initiatives that aim to drive breakthroughs in desalination technologies.
Operational desalination capacity and deployment of key technologies
India’s desalination market is making steady progress. The projects are focused on treating seawater efficiently across various states to meet the growing water demand. According to India Infrastructure Research, currently, around 410 million litres per day (mld) of municipal desalination and 400 mld of industrial desalination plants are operational in the country. The key municipal desalination projects include the Nemmeli desalination plant I and II, with capacities of 110 mld and 150 mld respectively, and the Minjur desalination plant in Tamil Nadu, with a capacity of 100 mld.
In the industrial segment, the Jamnagar desalination plant (134 mld), Dahej desalination plant (100 mld) and Essar oil refinery desalination plant (65 mld) are the key operational desalination plants.
These operational plants are deploying advanced technologies such as automation and others, thereby significantly enhancing operational efficiency and scalability. Membrane-based and thermal technologies, such as RO, MED, and their combination, are being progressively explored for municipal and industrial water purification. RO is a water purification method that involves forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane to separate and eliminate dissolved salts, impurities, and contaminants. MED, on the other hand, is a thermal desalination technology that produces fresh water from seawater using a series of evaporative stages where seawater is sprayed on to heated tubes, causing it to evaporate and condense. This process purifies the water while reusing heat, making it highly energy-efficient. In line with this, the Dahej desalination plant employs a highly automated framework, featuring real-time online monitoring and distributed control systems, enabling precise process control and reliability. Meanwhile, the Jamnagar desalination plant uses a combination of MED and RO technologies to treat seawater on a large industrial scale. With a planned capacity of 400 mld, it integrates LTTD and minimal pretreatment to reduce energy use and maintenance needs.
Rise in decentralisation of plants
Small-capacity desalination plants are also picking up pace in the country. This trend is driven by their technological advantages, including lower set-up costs, modular design and ease of deployment in remote or industrial locations. These plants often employ energy-efficient technologies suitable for decentralised operations, such as RO and LTTD. Currently, the desalination plants coming up at Amini, Androth, Chetlet, Kadmat, Kalpeni and Kiltan in Lakshadweep, having 0.15 mld capacity each, are deploying LTTD technology. In addition to this, NITI Aayog is actively promoting the development of desalination plants with capacities of around 1 mld or less, supporting the decentralised and sustainable expansion of water access in remote coastal and island regions.
Some of the other upcoming low-capacity desalination plants in the industrial segment are the Tuticorin desalination plant (5 mld) and V.O. Chidambaranar Port desalination plant (3 mld) in Tamil Nadu, Khavda desalination plant (1 mld) in Gujarat and OTEC Kavaratti desalination plant (0.10 mld) in Lakshadweep. These can help cater to the water needs of industries, have comparatively lower carbon emissions and contribute significantly to water-efficient operations.
Rising R&D innovations for technological upgradation
There has been a significant emphasis on research of new technologies and innovations to make desalination efficient, faster, cost-effective and sustainable. In line with this, the desalination system developed by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras in June 2025 showcases several notable technological innovations. It combines MED with solar energy, using flat-plate solar collectors to heat seawater to a temperature of 75 degrees Celsius. This significantly reduces energy dependence on fossil fuels. The system operates under a vacuum of 100 millibars, created using an ejector, which enables seawater to boil at lower temperatures, enhancing energy efficiency. The desalination process includes four evaporation and condensation chambers, progressively purifying the steam into potable water. This solar-powered, low-temperature MED set-up not only produces high quality water with just one part per million of salt but also exemplifies a sustainable, off-grid solution for remote and water-stressed regions.
Building on these advancements in solar-powered desalination, researchers at IIT Bombay have focused on enhancing the core materials such as evaporators used in the process. In April 2025, researchers from IIT, Bombay discovered a new material for evaporators to facilitate water desalination. The evaporators are crucial parts of desalination plants. This newly developed dual-sided super-hydrophobic laser-induced graphene (DSLIG) repels water and thus reduces the contact area between water droplets and the material surface. This helps prevent the deposition of salt crystals on the surface of evaporators, which is a major cause of reduced efficiency over time. The material features a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) layer for dual-sided hydrophobicity and a polyether sulphone (PES) layer for mechanical strength. The graphene layer is precisely engraved using laser technology, offering durability and precision. DSLIG is also effective in treating highly concentrated brine, making it suitable for challenging environments. Its low carbon footprint, non-toxicity, and cost-efficiency position it as a promising solution for large-scale and sustainable desalination operations.
In another important development, in January 2025, researchers from IIT Indore developed a solar energy-based water purification system. Reportedly, the system has incorporated interfacial solar steam generation technology, which combines solar energy with advanced photothermal materials to treat water efficiently and economically. This technology is a low-energy and low-cost alternative to conventional desalination processes such as RO. It is beneficial for remote and coastal areas with abundant seawater and scarce traditional energy sources.
From a technological standpoint, the indigenous development of a nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane by the Defence Materials Stores and Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), a Kanpur-based laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in May 2025, represents a significant leap in high-pressure seawater desalination capabilities. Designed specifically for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), this membrane addresses the persistent challenge of chloride ion interference in saline environments, an issue critical for reliable onboard desalination. The membrane’s multilayered nanoporous structure enhances salt rejection and operational stability under high-pressure conditions, making it ideal for maritime use. Reportedly, the technology has been developed within eight months to meet the requirements of the ICG’s desalination plant. The initial technical trials have been carried out in the existing desalination plant of the offshore patrolling vessel of the ICG jointly by the DMSRDE and the ICG. These initial safety and performance trials of polymeric membranes were fully satisfactory.
The way ahead
The desalination segment presents a promising solution to India’s water scarcity strengthened by its technological advancement. By offering a stable and weather-independent source of water, it will reduce reliance on conventional freshwater and groundwater resources. Recognising its potential, the government is actively promoting advanced desalination technologies to strengthen water security. For instance, the National Water Mission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti is encouraging the use of solar-powered desalination systems, particularly for coastal regions. Likewise, the Deep Ocean Mission by the Ministry of Earth Sciences is exploring the use of ocean wave energy to power desalination plants. Moreover, NITI Aayog, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), and the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, are collaborating with various stakeholders to advance desalination technologies that operate on renewable energy sources. These efforts are important stepping stones towards upgrading the desalination segment and its sustainable growth in future.
Aditi Gupta
