Glacial melt wataear in greenland: A renewable resource for the future

Abstract

Metl water available from ice caps and glaciers, such as that found in southern Greenland, can be used as a renewable resource for a largre scale hydropower project. Previous researchers have assessed the technical and economical feasibility of such a project, with the idea that harnessing this almost unlimited resource could help to solve our energy shortages. This article presents a brief state-of-the-art reaview concerning resource availability, the utilization and methodology for a glacial power stations and some alternative beneficial uses for glacial melt water. Hydropower is to be harnessed by using existing melt water channels and lakes on the ice cap of southern Greenland and/or by melting a prepatterned system of channels and reservoirs into the ice cap. Natural protruding rocks (nunataks') could be used as natural dams for the reservoirs, eliminating the costly construction of artificial dams. the collected melt water is to be channelled through penstocks to fiords at sea level—a 2000 m drop—where it will feed the turbines of power plants. Water discharged from the turbines could then be pumped directly into tankers or huge plastic hoses. the latter would be towed by tugs to drought stricken areas to provide drinking and irrigation water. Furthermore, liquid hydrogen and oxygen could be generated locally from the. discharge water by electrolysis and shipped all over the world. Long distance transport of bulk energy is proposed in the form of sea cables and overland transmission lines, hydrogen gas pipelines and tankers for liquid hydrogen transport (or ammonia). The advantages of this project are: (1) an energy source which causes virtually no pollution; (2) cheap exploitation costs due to drilling, mining and other exploration and production costs being eliminated; (3) construction and transport facilities costs compatible with present U.S. energy source development; (4) pre-planning and engineering problems can be minimized because of practical experience gained by some alpine countries; and (5) completion within twenty years, and much sooner if alternative uses of glacial melt water are utilized.