Salt Power: the latest renewable energy

In the 1950s scientists discovered that energy is released when saltwater is added to freshwater.

However, scientists have only recently begun to explore the possibilities for generating electricity from this energy, and found that the potential of salt water power is much greater than they had previously believed.

The discovery happened completely by accident

Jan Post was bored in his science lab one day because the lab’s internet connection was down.

He was required to stay in the lab to supervise the safety of a colleague. So he started playing with a desalination unit.

“I was struggling with the question: why does it take so much energy to desalinate water?” Post said.

He then put the question in reverse, and decided to measure how much energy is generated by adding salt water to fresh water.

Post’s study found that up to 80% of the electricity generated when saltwater hits freshwater can be recovered.

The greatest potential for this technology is at the estuary of rivers, where salt water and fresh water meet naturally.

Since Post’s study, scientists have examined the potential of the Rhine estuary, and discovered that it could generate enough electricity to power 650,000 homes.

Meanwhile, around 10% of Norway’s energy needs could be met with saltwater power.