Towards a worldwide sustainable and simultaneous large-scale production of renewable energy and potable water through salinity gradient power by combining reversed electrodialysis and solar power?

Abstract

The pressure on the environment by human activity is still increasing and natural fossil resources are rapidly being consumed. Oil reserves on our planet are indeed restricted and at the current pace those reserves will be depleted within a few generations. Mankind is indeed searching for alternative energy sources such as wind energy but such sources can deliver only a very small fraction of the energy consumption all over the world. In addition, the effects of global warming from the human activity on our planet are accepted as being proven. Carbon dioxide is the main cause of global warming and therefore the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions are becoming a first priority. As a result, a break-through technology which can produce in a sustainable way vast amounts of (carbon dioxide free) green energy, with moreover a simultaneous production of potable water, would really be of utmost importance for all living creatures on our planet. Such a technology could be feasible if seawater desalination for the production of potable water would be combined with salinity gradient power by reversed electrodialysis (SGPRE) and solar power.