'Smoke' From Factory Chimneys Proves to be Valuable Water Source

Membrane Technology to Convert Water Vapor Into Industrial and Drinking Water Now Tested on Large Scale; Ten Years' Preliminary Research Gains Follow-up

ARNHEM, The Netherlands, February 28, 2011 - It appears that so much high-grade water can be recovered from flue gases
of certain factory chimneys, as a result of strongly improved membrane
technology, that industrial plants in arid areas can make a valuable
contribution to the worlds water shortage. Field tests and ten years of
preliminary research have shown that these plants can change from water
consumers to water producers. The captured water can be used for both
industrial and consumptive use. Besides this, with these results, these
plants can save a lot of energy - and thus costs - in several industrial
processes. These possibilities present themselves in industries that require
much water e.g. for cooling applications, generating steam or for drying
processes, as in the food, paper, cement, energy and petrochemical sectors.
Commissioned by the European Union and led by energy services firm KEMA,
thirteen partners from Europe, the Middle East and Africa are working
together on a follow-up to this research.

From ten years preliminary research to large-scale tests

Ten years' research and testing under the leadership of the energy
services firm KEMA, in collaboration with the European Membrane Institute at
the University of Twente and a number of Dutch utilities, have resulted in
significantly improved gas separation membranes with which water vapor should
be captured on a large scale. As a follow-up, KEMA, under contract to the
European Union, together with thirteen partners from Europe, the Middle East
and Africa, has started with the development of a number of large-scale tests
at power stations in Spain and Israel, a geo-thermal well in Tunisia and
paper factories in the Netherlands and South Africa. These tests ought to
clear the way for industrial production and large-scale implementation of
this new technology.

From water consumer to water producer

Tests in industrial plants in the Netherlands and Germany have
demonstrated that at least 40% of the water in the flue gases can be
recovered with the new membrane technology. Beforehand, researchers counted
on a recovery of 20%. This means that an average power plant of 400 megawatts
can supply twice as much water as it needs for steam generation. The power
plant thus changes from water consumer to water producer. The amount of water
saved, corresponds to the yearly consumption of about 3,500 Western
households or about 9,500 African households The quality of the recovered
water is so high that it can be employed not only for deminarilized water use
for industry but also for consumption purposes. For this reason there are
three African partners in the consortium and two from the Middle East.
Initial calculations moreover show that hundreds of millions of euros can be
saved annually with this new technology. The new project bears the name
CapWa, 'Capture of evaporated Water with novel membranes'.

Broad consortium

Participants in the project (in alphabetical order) are: Brabant Water
(the Netherlands), Gas Natural Fenosa (Spain), Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche (Institute for Membrane Technology, Italy), Cut GmbH & Co. KG
(Germany), Ecole Nationale d'Ingenieurs de Tunis (Tunisia), Israel Electric
Corporation Ltd. (Israel), KEMA (the Netherlands), Kwame Nkrumah University
of Science and Technology Kumasi (Ghana), Membrana GmbH (Germany),
Papiertechnische Stiftung (Germany), Sappi Ltd. (South Africa & the
Netherlands), Stichting Kenniscentrum Papier en Karton (the Netherlands),
University of Twente - European Membrane Institute (the Netherlands), Yodfat
Engineers Ltd. (Israel).

Pier Nabuurs, chairman of KEMA Board of Directors:

"We are delighted that these fourteen partners are able to expand on the
work done during the last ten years. The consequences of this new technology
are far-reaching. Not only in the field of the environment and cost savings,
but certainly also in the field of the drinking water issue in arid areas, as
in some African countries."

About KEMA

KEMA, set up in 1927, is an independent knowledge provider that is active
around the world in the energy value chain. It specializes in high-value
services in the area of business & technical consultancy, operational
support, measurements & inspections, and testing & certification. As an
independent company, KEMA advises and supports government organizations as
well as producers, suppliers and end users of energy. In addition, the
company is testing and certifying electricity transmission and distribution
equipment, and other energy related equipment. More than 1,700 professionals
work at KEMA, which has offices and representations in more than 20 countries
around the world.

+++Information for editors, not for publication+++ For more information about this press release, contact Rolf van Stenus, KEMA Corporate Press Officer by telephone at +31-26-3-56-2607 or by e-mail at: rolf.vanstenus at kema.com .