Salinity gradient energy: awaking the silent waterfalls at rivers mouths

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Global energy demand is continuously increasing due to population growth and industrial development. With climate change and global warming, renewable sources of energy are being adopted at rapidly accelerating rates. However, many of the renewable energy sources (solar, wind, wave, geothermal, and hydro) have lower availability factor and seasonal generation variability. Therefore, diesel-generated electricity remains the main source of energy for communities in remote regions such as in Northern Ontario and many parts of the world. Given the high cost and environmental impact of diesel-generated electricity, there is a renewable energy alternative which has not yet been tapped. Salinity gradient energy (SGE) is the energy available from mixing two aqueous solutions of different salinity in a controlled process. This energy arises from the difference in osmotic pressure of the aqueous solutions. SGE has attracted growing interest recently as a highly promising source of renewable energy. However, many scientific and engineering challenges remain before SGE can become a practical energy source.This research program aims to develop SGE technologies and take them from theory to practical application. A long-term research goal is to provide techniques to generate electricity using available aqueous solutions of different salinity as found at river mouths where fresh water from the river meets seawater, or where industrial brine or wastewater is discharged into fresh surface water. The approach to achieve this aim includes: (i) developing theoretical and experimental studies to simulate and validate SGE processes, (ii) investigating membrane fouling, which is not totally understood with the aim of developing models suitable for the prediction of fouling and to mitigate its effect, (iii) applying pore network modeling (PNM) techniques to model the transport of water through the membranes and to suggest preferred membrane structures, (iv) designing and optimizing SGE systems and membrane modules to maximize power generation, and (v) conducting energy and exergy analyses to assess the performance of developed systems and configurations.This research program will contribute new fundamental knowledge in membrane and energy fields. HQP will be trained in thermofluid sciences including modeling, measuring, validating, designing, and analyzing SGE systems. SGE can offer economical and environmental benefits by providing clean energy solutions to communities in remote regions of Canada with a wide-vision for communities on river-ocean regions worldwide. It will also provide social benefits by enabling more sustainable urban development for future generations by providing their energy demands and improving their environmental conditions. In addition, it will impact the economy and many industries, particularly the evolving and expanding Canadian clean energy industry.