Environmental Impacts Assessment of Power Extraction by Salinity Gradient Power (SGP) Method

An enormous potential to gain renewable energy exists from blending dilute and concentrated salt solutions. Salinity gradient power (SGP) is based on the chemical potential difference between water streams with different salt concentrations. In this paper we discuss about the potential environmental impacts of salinity gradient power (SGP) processes. We discuss how these issue depend on the technology applied (reverse electrodialysis(RED) or pressure retarded osmosis(PRO)), on the sources of water used and on the specific site conditions. Regarding the environmental impacts, we analyses the water intake, the water disposal, and the infrastructure impacts. After a general review of each of the disadvantages and advantages of these systems, a conclusion is made about the risks of using or not using these systems.

Keywords:

Environmental Impacts , Salinity Gradient Power , chemical potential.