Pressure retarded osmosis

Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is the salinity gradient energy retrieved from the difference in the salt concentration between seawater and river water. In PRO, the water potential between fresh water and sea water corresponds to a pressure of 26 bars. This pressure is equivalent to a column of water (hydraulic head) 270 meters high. [ [http://www.statkraft.com/pub/innovation/osmotic_power/osmotic_power_in_brief/osmotic_power_in_brief.asp How does it work?] - Statkraft] However, the optimal working pressure is only half of this, 11 to 15 bar. [ [http://www.tekniikkatalous.fi/doc.te?f_id=993960&plain=true Osmoosivoimalan toiminta] - "Tekniikka & Talous" fi icon] This method of generating power was invented by Prof. Sidney Loeb in 1973 at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel. [Israel Patent Application 42658. (July 3, 1973). ]

Testing

Statkraft in Norway has announced that it will build an osmotic power plant prototype in Hurum in Buskerud. The prototype is planned to produce 2-4 kW at the start in 2008. [ [http://www.statkraft.com/pro/press/Press_releases/2007/Statkraft_to_build_world_s_first_osmotic_power_plant.asp Statkraft to build world's first osmotic power plant] ] [ [http://www.nyteknik.se/art/52676 Norway gets the world's first salt power plant] ] It is estimated that each year 1600 TWh could be generated world wide, and 12 TWh in Norway, sufficient to meet 10% of Norway's total demand for electricity [ [http://www.statkraft.com/pro/press/Press_releases/2007/Statkraft_to_build_world_s_first_osmotic_power_plant.asp Statkraft to build world's first osmotic power plant] ] .

References

Further reading

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ee also

*Van 't Hoff factor
*Osmotic pressure
*Reverse electrodialysis (RED)
*Electrodialysis reversal (EDR)
*Reverse osmosis
*Semipermeable membrane
*Green energy
*Renewable energy