Torrevieja Desalination Expansion Delayed Until 2027

The expansion of Europe's largest desalination plant in Torrevieja, Spain, now projected to begin operations in early 2027, has encountered delays and increased costs. The plant's capacity will rise from 80 to 120 cubic hectometres of water annually. However, the project budget has escalated from €89.49 million to €98.23 million due to four contract modifications.

Originally scheduled for completion in mid-2026, construction began in mid-2024 but has faced multiple delays. State water company Acuamed has acknowledged another necessary delay beyond the initial seven-month extension. The project includes a larger seawater intake, increased pumping capacity, a new 4,000-square-meter building for reverse-osmosis equipment, and improved delivery systems to La Pedrera reservoir.

Agriculture will benefit from about 100 cubic hectometres of the plant's output, with the remaining 20 reserved for urban consumption, primarily for Murcia's Campo de Cartagena and less than 20% for Alicante province. Energy consumption is a significant concern, with the plant expected to use 378 GWh of electricity in 2027, costing €48.61 million.

Despite Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's announcement of a large solar installation in 2024, the project remains in the preliminary planning stage, possibly occupying 140 hectares across several municipalities, which have opposed the plan due to potential farmland loss. Distribution issues pose a further challenge, as over 20,000 hectares served by Riegos de Levante and other irrigation communities lack a direct connection to the plant.

The missing pipeline network is estimated to cost around €290 million, meaning many farmers will continue to rely on water exchanges involving the limited Tagus–Segura transfer. Consequently, the Torrevieja desalination expansion faces a larger budget, rising electricity demands, and an unfinished distribution system as it approaches 2027.