The Power Of Osmosis

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.forbes.com/markets/economy/2007/10/03/osmotic-power-statkraft-markets-equity-cx_vr_1003markets12.html

The Power Of Osmosis

Vidya Ram, 10.03.07, 10:10 AM ET

LONDON -

What do you get when a river meets the sea? Plenty of cheap power.

That, at least, is what Norwegian renewable energy company Statkraft is hoping for. The state-owned company is starting up the world's first osmotic power plant, which uses the pressure built up when fresh water passes through a membrane, or strong but very thin mesh, into salt water.

"Osmosis" may drudge up memories of high school biology text books, but the company believes it has the potential to become the second largest source of renewable energy in Norway, and globally.

On Wednesday Statkraft announced it would be setting up a plant to provide osmotic energy to a paper plant outside Oslo. The project is in its early stages and construction is expected to be completed by the end of next year. It will cost Statkraft 100 million euros ($141 million).

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"It is clean and emission free, and could become competitive within a few years" he told Forbes.com. "We believe that it is important to test many different energy technologies for the future."

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According to Statkraft's projections, osmotic energy could become the second largest source of renewable energy in Norway after hydro, or river-generated power. The company believes the technology could be used to generate 12 terrawatts of electricity, double the energy produced by wind farms, though just a tenth the size of the hydro power market.

"I don’t think we will see anything on the scale of hydro power in Nordic countries in the future," said Fjerdingstad. The company estimates that osmotic energy could generate 200 terra watts, or nearly 6.0%, of Europe's total electricity generation.

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[kestrel91316]

1. In a time of declining freshwater supplies, WTF are they thinking??

[skids]

2. Yeah how dare we let a river flow into the sea...

...all they are doing is catching water that is about to flow into the sea, and forcing it to mix with the seawater through a membrane, rather than directly. If they didn't catch the water and do this to it, two guesses as to what would happen to it...

[kestrel91316]

3. Good point. As long as they do it on the coast and not inland where

the water could otherwise be used, or be part of a freshwater ecosystem.

[skids]

4. I don't think it would be profitable...

...to pump seawater inland. These plants are all planned for river deltas.

[kestrel91316]

5. Good point. DUH, lol.