Old news (2009), but I think this deserves its own thread.
When seawater and freshwater is separated by a membrane, the freshwater will travel through the membrane and create a rather large pressure differential. The osmotic pressure is 25 times atmospheric pressure, but not all of it can be utilized. Statkraft is hoping for the equivalent of 120m of water column.
This technology might become the most environmentally friendly power generation technology ever, and the potential is enormous.
After 12 years of development, Statkraft (www.statkraft.no) started up a pilot plant in 2009. The pilot plant is delivering between 2 and 4 kW continuously.
They are hoping to build commercial power plants within 2015.
http://www.statkraft.com/energy-sources/osmotic-power/osmotic-power-in-brief/
http://www.tu.no/energi/article229475.ece (in Norwegian, but with video and pictures)
http://www.tu.no/innsikt/energi/article179352.ece (also Norwegian, diagram of pilot plant)
When seawater and freshwater is separated by a membrane, the freshwater will travel through the membrane and create a rather large pressure differential. The osmotic pressure is 25 times atmospheric pressure, but not all of it can be utilized. Statkraft is hoping for the equivalent of 120m of water column.
This technology might become the most environmentally friendly power generation technology ever, and the potential is enormous.
After 12 years of development, Statkraft (www.statkraft.no) started up a pilot plant in 2009. The pilot plant is delivering between 2 and 4 kW continuously.
They are hoping to build commercial power plants within 2015.
http://www.statkraft.com/energy-sources/osmotic-power/osmotic-power-in-brief/
http://www.tu.no/energi/article229475.ece (in Norwegian, but with video and pictures)
http://www.tu.no/innsikt/energi/article179352.ece (also Norwegian, diagram of pilot plant)
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