Binzhou, Shandong: Electricity powers seawater desalination, driving regional green development

At the OriginWater Seawater Desalination Co., Ltd. in Shandong Lubei High-tech Development Zone, seawater — once bitter, fishy, and salty — passes through automated desalination processes including impurity removal, filtration, and reverse osmosis, turns into affordable, high-quality freshwater that flows to nearby chemical enterprises, and becomes the "source of vitality" that drives industrial growth and attracts numerous major projects to the area.

This project, made possible with the support of State Grid Binzhou Power Supply Company, stands as a model of cross-sector collaboration between the energy and water industries. It resolves the long-standing challenge of providing stable and sustainable water supplies for the water-intensive chemical industry in this fresh water-scarce coastal region.

During the initial construction phase of OriginWater, State Grid Binzhou Power Supply Company provided end-to-end support, conducting multiple on-site surveys to develop a tailored power access solution. This not only ensured rapid commissioning but also reserved ample capacity for future expansion of the seawater desalination company. The power supply company also actively implemented preferential electricity pricing policies for the environmental protection sector. By the end of 2025, it had cumulatively waived basic electricity charges totaling 29.15 million yuan ($4.29 million) for the project, effectively reducing operational costs and enhancing its economic competitiveness.

Recently, with the successful launch of OriginWater's Phase II project, the desalination facility can now replace up to 50 million cubic meters of traditional water sources annually — equivalent to the storage capacity of 40 Daming Lake, a large urban lake in Jinan,capital city of Shandong province. State Grid Binzhou Power Supply Company continues to deliver "nanny-style" electricity services, regularly engaging with the enterprises in the development zone to understand their power needs and promptly adjusting service plans to ensure precise and reliable power supply.

Going forward, State Grid Binzhou Power Supply Company will remain committed to providing stable and reliable power support for key projects. Through efficient energy services, it will help the region build a greener, more sustainable industrial ecosystem, driving a win-win outcome for both water resource security and economic development in coastal areas.