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Power production from the osmotic pressure difference between fresh water and sea water

SALINITY POWER

Project timeline
Start:
November 2001
Duration:
36 months
End:
October 2004
General Information
The principle of salinity power is exploitation of the entropy of mixing fresh water and seawater. We have found that pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is the most promising method for production of this energy. In this process water diffuses from fresh water to salt water that is kept at a higher pressure due to osmotic forces.
The main object of the project is to develop and measure the performance of PRO membranes. The result will be used in an updated evaluation of the process and the realism of developing salinity power to a commercial energy source.
Experimental membrane samples to be tested in the project will be made by the co-operating partners. The evaluation of necessary features in the membranes and measurements of the properties and PRO performance of the samples will be done at SINTEF. The partners will provide membranes that are either modifications of existing and promising membrane types or completely new developments as described below.
EU-Programme Acronym and Subprogramme AreaFP5-EESD-2000, KA5: Cleaner energy systems including renewable energies; Other renewable energies (1.1.4.-5.2.5.)
Project TypeRTD
Contract NumberENK6-CT-2001-00504
Co-ordinatorStatkraft SF (NO)
Total Eligible Costs (€) Hereon Eligible Costs (€) EC Funding for Hereon (€)
3.371.285698.463
Contact Person at Hereon Prof. Dr. Volker Abetz, Institute of Polymer Research, PM Phone: +49-4152-87 2461, Fax : +49-4152-87 2444
E-mail contact
Worldwide Europe

Participants
Helsinki University of Technology (FI), Instituto de Ciencia e Tecnologia de Polimeros (PT), SINTEF (NO), Statkraft SF (NO)

(completed October 2004)

Last Update: 16. April 2021