The Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC) has obtained a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS record for achieving the lowest energy consumption registered in a seawater desalination plant, with a certified value of 1.794 kWh per cubic meter of water produced.
The achievement, attributed to the desalination plant design concept known as DESALRO 2.0®, was officially recognized by Guinness World Records (GWR) with operation data obtained between January and February 2025, consolidating the Canary Islands and the ITC – DESAL+ LIVING LAB as an international benchmark in water innovation and sustainability.
The significance of the milestone
This record not only sets a new world record in energy efficiency of the reverse osmosis desalination process, but also demonstrates the ability of public R&D to transform environmental challenges into real solutions.
The figure of 1.794 kWh/m³ represents a significant reduction compared to the current average values of the desalination process sector, which usually range between 2.1 and 3.0 kWh/m³, or the previous world record held by the SWCC (2021) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a value of 2.271 kWh/m³, all of which marks a key step towards a more sustainable energy model.
DESALRO 2.0® Technology and Design
DESALRO 2.0® is an ITC initiative designed to optimize the reverse osmosis desalination process through the most effective integration of equipment on the market, maximizing efficiency and reducing losses in the process.
An experimental plant, operating at a scale of 2,500 m³/day, is located at the ITC facilities in Pozo Izquierdo (DESAL+ LIVING LAB) in the Canary Islands. It was conceived as an open laboratory for technological innovation, combining high-performance technology with the ITC’s accumulated experience in desalination in islands. This design is being validated in other desalination plants already in operation, achieving the same efficiencies.
Impact in the Canary Islands and international projection
Achieving this record reinforces the Canary Islands’ position as a world-renowned center for water technologies, especially desalination, with over 60 years of experience.
Potential applications of DESALRO 2.0® designs include:
- Reduction of energy and environmental costs in desalination plants
- Transferring these rack designs to large scale.
- Replication of the model in island territories and arid regions with water scarcity.
- Promotion of blue and circular economy policies, supported by innovation made in the Canary Islands.
Institutional statements
The CEO of the ITC, Ms. Guayarmina Peña, stressed that this recognition “confirms the technological leadership of the Canary Islands in the field of sustainable desalination and the importance of applied research as an engine of regional development.”
The project’s technical team also highlighted that the record “is the result of years of collaborative work between engineers, researchers and operators from the ITC, with the support of the Canary Islands Research Agency – ACIISI, the Canary Islands desalination industry, and thanks to European funding from NEXT GENERATION.”
About the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC)
The Canary Islands Institute of Technology, a public entity attached to the Ministry of Universities, Science & Innovation and Culture of the Canary Islands Government, promotes applied research, business innovation and sustainability.
Its active participation in international projects has positioned the archipelago as a testing platform for advanced water management and renewable energies.
IDIWATER Project
All the procedures required for registration in the Guinness World Records, as well as the technical verifications, certifications, and administrative costs associated with the official validation process, have been carried out within the framework of the IDIWATER project, co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg MAC 2021–2027 programme.
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